Judges Reject Trump's Use of Alien Enemies Act for Deportations

Multiple federal judges have ruled that President Donald Trump improperly invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite the deportation of suspected members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, arguing that the gang's activities do not constitute an 'invasion' or 'predatory incursion' as required by the law. Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein in New York, echoing rulings from judges in Texas and Colorado, found that narcotics trafficking by the gang is a criminal issue, not grounds for wartime measures. The rulings emphasized that the administration failed to provide adequate due process for those facing deportation, with insufficient notice and opportunity to challenge their removal. The courts clarified that while the Alien Enemies Act cannot be used in these cases, other legal avenues for deportation remain available. These decisions add to a series of judicial setbacks for the Trump administration's immigration policies and reflect growing judicial skepticism about using broad executive powers to bypass standard immigration procedures.