Thu May 01 21:18:09 UTC 2025: **Federal Judge Issues Permanent Injunction Against Trump Administration’s Use of Alien Enemies Act**
Houston, TX – In a landmark decision, a US District Court judge has permanently blocked the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport Venezuelans from South Texas. This is the first permanent injunction of its kind against the administration’s controversial application of the wartime law.
Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., a Trump appointee, ruled that the administration exceeded the law’s authority by invoking it against members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. While acknowledging the gang’s harmful activities, Judge Rodriguez found that the administration’s claim of an “invasion” or “predatory incursion” did not meet the legal threshold for using the Alien Enemies Act, a law previously invoked only three times, most recently during World War II.
The ruling prevents the government from detaining, transferring, or deporting Venezuelan nationals under the act within the Southern District of Texas. While the administration is expected to appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the decision represents a significant legal victory for immigrant rights advocates.
The ACLU, which participated in the lawsuit, hailed the decision as a crucial protection against the executive branch’s overreach. Critics have consistently argued that the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, outside the context of actual wartime, is unconstitutional and violates due process rights. This ruling follows similar, though temporary, injunctions issued in other jurisdictions. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has also criticized the administration’s actions as unlawful.
The ongoing legal battles surrounding the Alien Enemies Act highlight the intense debate over immigration policy and the limits of executive power. The Trump administration’s appeal is expected to further prolong the legal fight over this controversial measure.
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