Appeals Court Blocks Trump Deportations of Venezuelan Gang Members

A federal appeals court ruled that President Donald Trump's administration cannot use the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act to expedite the deportation of alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, blocking a key aspect of the president’s immigration enforcement strategy. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, held that the wartime law was not intended for peacetime immigration issues and found no evidence of an invasion or predatory incursion by a foreign government. The court rejected the administration’s claim that the gang posed a national security threat justifying the use of the statute, emphasizing that encouraging illegal immigration does not equate to an armed invasion. The ruling prevents deportations from Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi and marks a significant judicial check on the administration's use of emergency powers without sufficient judicial oversight. The Trump administration is expected to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, with dissenting Judge Andrew Oldham warning that the ruling undermines the president’s authority in foreign affairs and national security matters. Immigrant rights advocates hailed the decision as a crucial safeguard against executive overreach.