33 sources·Politics

Judge Blocks Deportations Amid Gang Controversy

New developments reveal tensions between DHS and media over Venezuelan gang members detained in Texas.

The distribution of story sources: left-leaning (blue), center (light gray), and right-leaning (red).
Mostly Reliable
The underlying sources are generally reliable but sometimes include opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.
Balanced
The underlying sources are either a balanced mix of left and right or primarily centrist.
  1. A Trump judge’s ruling against Trump’s deportations, briefly explained

    This one does, and if upheld more broadly, it would undermine a major piece of the administration’s effort to quickly conduct mass deportations.

    A Trump judge’s ruling against Trump’s deportations, briefly explained

    VoxVox·16h
    Mostly Reliable
    This source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.
    ·
    Leans Left
    This outlet slightly leans left.
  2. Trump administration asks Supreme Court to strip legal protections from 350,000 Venezuelan migrants

    The Trump administration has moved aggressively to withdraw various protections that have allowed immigrants to remain in the country, including ending TPS for a total of 600,000 Venezuelans and 500,000 Haitians.

    Trump administration asks Supreme Court to strip legal protections from 350,000 Venezuelan migrants

    Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune·17h
    Reliable
    This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
    ·
    Center
    This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
  3. DOJ asks Supreme Court to end temporary legal protections for 350,000 Venezuelan migrants

    The Trump administration has moved aggressively to withdraw various protections that have allowed immigrants to remain in the country, including ending TPS for a total of 600,000 Venezuelans and 500,000 Haitians.

    DOJ asks Supreme Court to end temporary legal protections for 350,000 Venezuelan migrants

    PBS NewsHourPBS NewsHour·17h
    Reliable
    This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
    ·
    Leans Left
    This outlet slightly leans left.
  4. Court rules against Trump’s use of Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans

    Since taking office for a second term, Trump has designated criminal groups like Tren de Aragua as foreign terrorist organisations, a category that makes non-citizen members inadmissible to the US.

    Court rules against Trump’s use of Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans

    Al JazeeraAl Jazeera·17h
    Reliable
    This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
    ·
    Leans Left
    This outlet slightly leans left.
  5. Federal judge rules Trump cannot use Alien Enemies Act to deport Tren de Aragua terrorists: 'Unlawful'

    Rodriguez concluded that "the historical record renders clear that the President's invocation of the AEA through the Proclamation exceeds the scope of the statute and is contrary to the plain, ordinary meaning of the statute's claims."

    Federal judge rules Trump cannot use Alien Enemies Act to deport Tren de Aragua terrorists: 'Unlawful'

    The BlazeThe Blaze·17h
    Mostly Reliable
    This source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.
    ·
    Right
    This outlet favors right-wing views.
  6. Federal judge rules Trump's Alien Enemies Act proclamation is unlawful

    The ruling is likely to be appealed to the conservative U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, but it is yet another setback for the Trump administration, which has struggled to find judges willing to entertain its unprecedented claims of executive power.

    Federal judge rules Trump's Alien Enemies Act proclamation is unlawful

    ReasonReason·17h
    Mostly Reliable
    This source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.
    ·
    Center
    This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
  7. Trump-appointed judge calls Trump’s Alien Enemies Act invocation ‘unlawful’

    While this is just one ruling from one (Trump-appointed) judge in one district, it shows the difficulty the administration could face in ultimately prevailing before the Supreme Court on the merits of the issue.

    Trump-appointed judge calls Trump’s Alien Enemies Act invocation ‘unlawful’

    MSNBCMSNBC·17h
    Mostly Reliable
    This source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.
    ·
    Left
    This outlet favors left-wing views.
  8. Trump administration asks Supreme Court to strip legal protections from 350,000 Venezuelan migrants

    The Trump administration has moved aggressively to withdraw various protections that have allowed immigrants to remain in the country, including ending TPS for a total of 600,000 Venezuelans and 500,000 Haitians.

    Trump administration asks Supreme Court to strip legal protections from 350,000 Venezuelan migrants

    Associated PressAssociated Press·17h
    Reliable
    This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
    ·
    Center
    This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
  9. Judge rules Alien Enemies Act does not allow White House to deport alleged gang members

    The ruling from US district judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr is significant because it is the first sweeping and permanent injunction directly addressing whether the government can use the 1798 Alien Enemies Act (AEA) to deport alleged members of Tren de Aragua.

    Judge rules Alien Enemies Act does not allow White House to deport alleged gang members

    The GuardianThe Guardian·18h
    Reliable
    This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
    ·
    Leans Left
    This outlet slightly leans left.
  10. Judge rules Trump's Alien Enemies Act deportations unlawful

    The hasty deportation of immigrants without due process has led to a host of lawsuits against the Trump administration.

    Judge rules Trump's Alien Enemies Act deportations unlawful

    SalonSalon·18h
    Mostly Reliable
    This source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.
    ·
    Left
    This outlet favors left-wing views.
  11. Federal Judge Says Trump’s Use of Alien Enemies Act Is Unlawful, Blocks Deportations

    The order appears to be the first one issued by a judge that explicitly rules that Trump’s use of the 18th-century law to deport Venezuelan nationals accused of being Tren de Aragua members is unlawful.

    Federal Judge Says Trump’s Use of Alien Enemies Act Is Unlawful, Blocks Deportations

    Epoch TimesEpoch Times·19h
    Mixed Reliable
    This source has a mixed track record—sometimes accurate but also prone to bias, sensationalism, or incomplete reporting.
    ·
    Right
    This outlet favors right-wing views.
  12. Trump-Appointed Judge Rules Deportation Push Is Unlawful

    The Trump administration’s in-court battles to establish their authority under the AEA — as well as their lack of compliance with court rulings — have resulted in a series of sharp rebukes from judges in federal and district courts.

    Trump-Appointed Judge Rules Deportation Push Is Unlawful

    Rolling StoneRolling Stone·20h
    Mixed Reliable
    This source has a mixed track record—sometimes accurate but also prone to bias, sensationalism, or incomplete reporting.
    ·
    Left
    This outlet favors left-wing views.
  13. Trump-appointed federal judge rejects use of Alien Enemies Act in Venezuelan deportations

    Rodriguez wrote in his 36-page opinion that the Trump administration’s use of “invasion” does not match the historical use of the term, which has typically been used in connection with military endeavors or warfare.

    Trump-appointed federal judge rejects use of Alien Enemies Act in Venezuelan deportations

    NBC NewsNBC News·21h
    Reliable
    This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
    ·
    Center
    This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
  14. Trump Urges Supreme Court to Strip Legal Protections From 350,000 Venezuelan Migrants

    The Trump administration has moved aggressively to withdraw various protections that have allowed immigrants to remain in the country, including ending TPS for a total of 600,000 Venezuelans and 500,000 Haitians.

    Trump Urges Supreme Court to Strip Legal Protections From 350,000 Venezuelan Migrants

    NewsmaxNewsmax·21h
    Mixed Reliable
    This source has a mixed track record—sometimes accurate but also prone to bias, sensationalism, or incomplete reporting.
    ·
    Right
    This outlet favors right-wing views.
  1. FOX News
  2. Vox
  3. The Post Millennial
  4. Chicago Tribune
  5. PBS NewsHour
  6. Al Jazeera
  7. The Blaze
  8. Reason
  9. MSNBC
  10. CBS News
  11. Boston Herald
  12. Associated Press
  13. CNN
  14. The Guardian
  15. Salon
  16. Breitbart News
  17. Epoch Times
  18. Rolling Stone
  19. New York Sun
  20. TPM
  21. NBC News
  22. Newsmax

Updated: May 1st, 2025, 10:27 PM ET

Summary

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. has halted the Trump administration's efforts to use the Alien Enemies Act for the deportation of Venezuelans amid an escalating immigration controversy. Concurrently, DHS is pushing back against a Reuters report on suspected members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, who formed an SOS at a Texas detention center. DHS claims the media is misrepresenting the situation, emphasizing that several detainees are confirmed gang members linked to violent crimes. The conflicting narratives highlight the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policy and security concerns.


Perspectives

Compare opinions on this story from liberal (Left), conservative (Right) or center-leaning news organizations.
  • U.S. District Court Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ruled that the Trump administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) to deport Venezuelan migrants is unlawful, stating it exceeds the statutory scope intended for wartime actions.

  • The invocation of the AEA by President Trump was based on his claims of an 'invasion' by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which the court found does not meet the criteria of an organized armed attack as required by the law.

  • Rodriguez's decision signals a significant legal check on presidential power concerning immigration enforcement and highlights the importance of judicial review in such actions.


FAQs

A list of follow-up questions readers often ask about this story.

No FAQs available for this story.


History

A summary of how this story has evolved over the last 24 hours.
  • 16h
  • 18h