Mon Mar 24 23:39:18 UTC 2025: **Federal Judge Questions Due Process in Trump-Era Deportations, Comparing Treatment to Nazi Defendants**
Washington, DC – A heated federal appeals court hearing on Monday saw a judge raise serious concerns about the due process afforded to Venezuelan immigrants deported under the Trump administration’s use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. Judge Patricia Millett, appointed by President Obama, controversially compared the treatment of these individuals to that of Nazi defendants during World War II, stating, “Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemies Act than has happened here.”
The Trump administration is appealing a lower court injunction blocking its use of the act to deport undocumented immigrants, arguing it’s a necessary tool for national security. The administration’s lawyer, Drew Ensign, disputed the Nazi analogy. The act, rarely invoked, was last used during World War II to detain Japanese Americans, a decision the US later apologized for.
The current controversy centers on the March 15th deportation of over 200 Venezuelan men to El Salvador, where they were imprisoned in a maximum-security facility after having their heads shaved. The US government claims they are members of the Tren de Aragua gang, a claim disputed by family members and advocates who point to a lack of due process. One deported man was allegedly misidentified as a gang member based on a Real Madrid football team tattoo.
Judge Millett countered the administration’s arguments, stating that “the president has to comply with the Constitution and the laws like anyone else.” The hearing also highlighted the secrecy surrounding the deportations, with the ACLU arguing the administration deliberately obscured its actions. A Trump-appointed judge on the panel, however, questioned the venue of the ACLU’s lawsuit and the precedent for blocking what he termed a “national security operation.” The third judge remained largely silent during the proceedings. The appeals court’s decision is pending.
First Piper 