A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s anticipated use of the Alien Enemies Act against five Venezuelan citizens who are detained in U.S. jails and fear the 1798 law could lead to their immediate deportation.
The law allows the deportation without a hearing of anyone from the designated enemy country who is not a naturalized citizen. The law has only been invoked three times while the country was at war, to hasten the removal of citizens of enemy countries. But Trump is reportedly considering invoking it soon.
Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington, D.C., granted a temporary restraining order Saturday and ordered the government not to deport the men for at least 14 days while the case is litigated.
On November 9, 2023, a little over a month into Israel’s war in Gaza, two student...
