Judge Criticizes Deportation of Venezuelan Gang Members

During a recent federal appeals court hearing, U.S. Circuit Judge Patricia Millett criticized the Trump administration for its use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport over 200 alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to El Salvador, stating that they were afforded fewer rights than Nazis during World War II. The administration's deportations were halted by a district judge's restraining order, citing lack of due process and adequate legal recourse for the migrants, who were not notified or given hearings before being deported. Judge Millett highlighted that the migrants had no opportunity to challenge their deportations through habeas corpus until the district court intervened. Justice Department lawyer Drew Ensign contested the comparison to Nazis and claimed that some individuals did file habeas petitions, but this did not address the broader issue of due process for all deportees. The appeals court is reviewing the administration's appeal against the restraining order. The case underscores significant legal and ethical questions surrounding the use of historical wartime laws for modern immigration enforcement.