US judge halts Trump's deportation of Venezuelan gang members
What's the story
A federal judge has temporarily put on hold deportations under President Donald Trump's implementation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, specifically related to the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua.
The law was used to speed up the removal of suspected members of this group, which has been associated with serious crimes such as kidnapping, extortion, organized crime, and contract killings.
Legal intervention
Judge Boasberg issues restraining order
Judge James Boasberg granted a 14-day temporary restraining order, against Trump's proclamation.
He said the Alien Enemies Act "does not provide a basis for the president's proclamation, given that the terms invasion, predatory incursion really relate to hostile acts perpetrated by any nation and commensurate to war."
The legal intervention comes after Trump accused gang members of irregular warfare against the US.
Presidential action
Trump's proclamation and its implications
Under Trump's proclamation, all Venezuelan citizens aged 14 or older identified as gang members, within the US, and not naturalized or lawful permanent residents of the country could be removed as Alien Enemies.
This act has been used in times of war to bypass the due process rights of migrants categorized as threats for rapid deportation.
Opposition
Criticism and legal challenges
The move has attracted criticism from civil rights groups and some Democrats, who say reviving the Alien Enemies Act to fuel mass deportations could trigger legal challenges.
New York Attorney General Letitia James called Trump's decision "bigoted, dangerous, and profoundly unjust."
William Vasquez, an immigration lawyer in North Carolina also noted this is the first time the act "has been applied against migrants from a country with which the US is not at war."