Sat Mar 15 21:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Attempt to Deport Venezuelans Under 18th-Century Law
**Washington, D.C.** – A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Saturday, blocking the Trump administration’s plan to deport five Venezuelans using the controversial 1798 Alien Enemies Act. The move, which preempted a formal announcement by President Trump, sparked immediate legal challenges and highlights the potential for widespread deportations.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Democracy Forward filed suit, arguing the administration intended to label the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, a “predatory incursion” and deport any Venezuelan potentially associated with it, regardless of individual circumstances. Chief Judge James E. Boasberg of the D.C. Circuit granted the temporary restraining order, preventing the deportation of the five Venezuelans currently in custody for 14 days. He scheduled a hearing to consider expanding the order to protect all Venezuelans in the U.S.
The administration swiftly appealed the ruling. The use of the Alien Enemies Act, previously invoked during World War II to justify the internment of Japanese Americans, has raised significant concerns. Legal experts argue that its application outside of wartime is highly questionable and could circumvent established immigration and criminal legal protections. Immigration lawyers reported frantic activity by the government Friday night suggesting imminent deportations, prompting several emergency legal filings. The legal battle promises to be protracted and contentious, focusing on the constitutionality and scope of the 1798 law in a modern context.
First Piper 