In a significant legal decision affecting immigration policy, a federal judge in Texas has ruled that a centuries-old law cannot be used to deport Venezuelan migrants under a recent executive order. The ruling is seen as a major legal challenge to a key element of former President Donald Trump’s immigration strategy.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez, presiding in Brownsville, Texas, determined that the administration overstepped its legal authority in invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite deportations. The law, originally enacted during a time of international conflict, gives the president power to remove non-citizens deemed a threat during declared wars or national emergencies.
The Trump administration had cited national security concerns related to alleged connections between certain Venezuelan migrants and a criminal group known as Tren de Aragua, which has been designated a terrorist organization. The government used this argument to carry out swift deportations without formal hearings in several cases.
However, Judge Rodriguez, who was appointed to the bench by President Trump, issued a 36-page opinion concluding that the situation did not meet the criteria outlined in the Alien Enemies Act. He wrote that the law was not intended to apply under the current circumstances and permanently barred its use for deportations in the Southern District of Texas based on this legal reasoning.
This decision follows other recent legal developments that have questioned the scope of executive authority in immigration matters. A separate court in Colorado recently placed a temporary hold on similar deportations, ensuring individuals are given time to challenge their removal.
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