Federal Appeals Courts Block Trump's Use of Alien Enemies Act for Venezuelan Deportations
Federal appeals courts ruled President Trump's use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport suspected Venezuelan gang members unlawful, citing insufficient national conflict for its invocation.
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Overview
- Federal appeals courts ruled President Trump's invocation of the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act unlawful, blocking his attempt to deport suspected Venezuelan gang members.
- The courts determined there was insufficient evidence of national conflict or an "invasion" to justify using the rarely invoked Act for these specific deportations.
- This ruling supports arguments from lower court judges and immigrant rights lawyers who opposed the administration's broad interpretation of the Alien Enemies Act.
- Historically, the Alien Enemies Act, which grants powers to detain and deport citizens of hostile nations, has only been used three times during declared wars.
- Originating in Texas, the case is now subject to an emergency review by the Supreme Court, while a seven-day notice policy for deportations was upheld.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally, focusing on the factual legal developments without injecting editorial bias. They present the court's decision, the arguments from both the majority and the dissenting judge, and the administration's position, allowing readers to understand the various facets of the legal challenge.
"The 5th Circuit concluded that Trump's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act is not supported by that law's text or history."
Reason"The majority opinion said Trump's allegations about Tren de Aragua do not meet the historical levels of national conflict that Congress intended for the act."
NPR"The 5th Circuit limited its ruling to the use of the Alien Enemies Act for removal and said it does not cover other legal means of removing "foreign terrorists.""
NBC News"The Trump administration’s use of a wartime statute during peacetime to regulate immigration was rightly shut down by the court."
USA TODAY"The ruling — which was issued by a three-judge panel, with one dissenter — found the situation with Tren de Aragua does not meet the definition of either an "invasion" or a "predatory incursion.""
CBS News"The decision bars deportations from Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi."
Associated PressArticles (18)
Center (6)
FAQ
The Alien Enemies Act is an 18th-century law enacted in 1798 that allows the U.S. government to detain and deport citizens of hostile nations during times of declared war or national conflict.
The courts ruled it unlawful because there was insufficient evidence of a national conflict or an invasion involving Venezuela, which is required to justify invoking the Alien Enemies Act for deportations.
Historically, the Alien Enemies Act has only been invoked three times prior to this case, each during times of declared war.
The ruling limits the administration's ability to broadly interpret and apply the Alien Enemies Act for deportations, reinforcing challenges to policies that invoke outdated laws without adequate justification of national conflict.
The case, which originated in Texas, is currently undergoing an emergency review by the Supreme Court, while the policy requiring a seven-day notice before deportations was upheld.
History
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