Today's News: Judge Strikes Down Trump’s Use of Alien Enemies Act for Deportations
The judge concluded that the 1798 wartime law cannot be invoked during peacetime to justify deportations, rejecting the claim that the Venezuelan gang constitutes a military invasion.
Photo: Senate Judiciary Committee
Overview
Date: May 1, 2025
Topic: Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump’s Use of Alien Enemies Act for Deportations
Summary: A federal judge in Texas, Fernando Rodriguez Jr.—appointed by President Donald Trump—ruled that the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants is unlawful. The judge concluded that the 1798 wartime law cannot be invoked during peacetime to justify deportations, rejecting the administration's claim that the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua constitutes a military invasion. The ruling permanently blocks such deportations in the Southern District of Texas and allows class-action challenges by affected individuals. Although the administration retains the ability to deport under other immigration statutes, this is the first definitive decision to invalidate Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act on the merits.
Sources
The New York Times: Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump’s Use of Alien Enemies Act to Deport Venezuelans
CNN: Trump-appointed judge says president’s use of Alien Enemies Act is unlawful in first-of-its-kind ruling
NBC News: Trump-appointed federal judge rejects use of Alien Enemies Act in Venezuelan deportations
Fox News: Federal judge opens door to Alien Enemies Act targets suing Trump administration
The Washington Post: Judge rules Trump exceeded authority and cannot deport migrants under wartime act
The Wall Street Journal: Judge Rules Trump’s Use of Wartime Powers to Deport Venezuelans Was Unlawful
Key Points
Judge Rodriguez ruled that Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act exceeded the statute’s scope and was incompatible with its wartime context.
The court emphasized that the Act's terms like “invasion” and “predatory incursion” refer to organized military actions, not street gangs.
The decision applies to all Venezuelans detained under the Act in the Southern District of Texas and includes a permanent injunction.
The ruling explicitly preserves the administration’s authority to deport individuals under traditional immigration laws like the Immigration and Nationality Act.
This is the first ruling to permanently strike down the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act on substantive legal grounds.
Unique Highlights
The New York Times reported on the deportation of 140 Venezuelans to El Salvador and the ACLU’s effort to repatriate them.
CNN highlighted the broader implications of stripping courts of authority if presidents can unilaterally invoke wartime powers.
NBC News noted that Judge Rodriguez formally granted class certification, expanding protections to all Venezuelans in the Southern District of Texas.
Fox News emphasized the administration’s argument against collective legal challenges and the judge’s rationale for judicial efficiency in granting class status.
The Washington Post provided background on Trump’s broader immigration crackdown and linked the decision to broader legal pushback against Trump’s policies.
The Wall Street Journal detailed how the decision contrasts with historic uses of the Alien Enemies Act during declared wars, and noted a related Supreme Court emergency appeal over temporary legal protections for Venezuelans.
Contrasting Details
Fox News framed the decision primarily as a procedural class-action authorization and emphasized ICE-related criminal concerns.
CNN and The Washington Post focused on constitutional overreach and the misuse of wartime powers in peacetime.
The Wall Street Journal emphasized historical precedent and how this case diverges from prior legal interpretations of the Alien Enemies Act.
While NBC News and CNN underline the decision’s legal finality, Fox News discusses individualized determinations, implying potential continued deportations under other claims.
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