U.S. Court Restricts Enforcement of the Alien Enemies Act Invoked by President Trump

A U.S. federal court has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the enforcement of the Alien Enemies Act, which President Donald Trump sought to use to expedite the deportation of Venezuelans from the United States.

Judge James Boasberg of the District of Columbia ruled that the law, originally enacted in 1798 and rarely used, does not provide a legal basis for the president’s actions. He emphasized that terms like “invasion” and “incursion” apply only to state-led military conflicts.

The ruling came after the Trump administration attempted to use the law to deport individuals allegedly affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang, whom Trump described as engaging in “irregular warfare against the U.S.”

The decision follows legal challenges from civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which argue that the law is only applicable during wartime and its use in this context is unconstitutional.

The White House has yet to respond, and government attorneys have already appealed the ruling.