Sat Mar 15 21:16:06 UTC 2025: **Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Mass Deportation Plan**

Washington, D.C. – A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on Saturday, halting the Trump administration’s plan to deport Venezuelans under the rarely used Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The order came just hours after President Trump invoked the act, citing an alleged “invasion” by the Tren de Aragua gang and claiming new powers to expedite mass deportations.

Judge James E. Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia acted swiftly, citing the imminent deportation of migrants already en route to El Salvador and Honduras. He argued that a brief delay would not harm the government, while emphasizing the need to maintain the status quo.

The administration’s plan, targeting the Tren de Aragua gang, designates it a hostile force acting on behalf of the Venezuelan government. President Trump’s declaration followed a previous court order blocking the deportation of five Venezuelans, foreshadowing the legal challenges to come. The judge is considering expanding the ban to protect all Venezuelans in the U.S.

The Alien Enemies Act, last used extensively during World War II for the internment of Japanese Americans, grants the president broad authority to deport individuals deemed a threat during wartime. While the Trump administration argues this authority is justified given the gang’s alleged threat, critics see it as a potentially dangerous expansion of executive power. The White House was reportedly preparing to detain approximately 300 individuals identified as gang members in El Salvador.

The ACLU and Democracy Forward filed the lawsuit that led to the temporary restraining order on behalf of five Venezuelans facing imminent deportation. The Justice Department has since appealed the order, arguing that allowing a court to block presidential action before its announcement would cripple the executive branch. This legal battle underscores the highly controversial nature of the Alien Enemies Act and its potential implications for immigration policy.

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