Alien Enemies Act

US Deports Hundreds of Venezuelans Despite Court Order

Despite a federal judge’s order halting their deportation, over 200 Venezuelans, allegedly members of the Tren de Aragua gang, were flown from the US to El Salvador’s maximum-security Cecot prison. The US government, citing the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, maintained the deportations were lawful as they occurred before the order was issued. This action has drawn criticism from rights groups who allege a violation of due process and racist targeting, while Venezuela condemned the invocation of the historic law. The Department of Justice has appealed the judge’s ruling.

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Milwaukee Mother Deported to Laos After Marijuana Conviction

Ma Yang, a Hmong American mother of five, was deported from Milwaukee to Laos, a country she’d never visited, despite being a legal US resident. Her deportation stemmed from a plea deal for marijuana-related charges, where she received incorrect legal counsel. Now without her medications for diabetes and high blood pressure, she is stranded in Laos, unable to communicate or access resources due to lacking documentation. This deportation occurred amidst increased deportation efforts under the Trump administration, though a temporary restraining order has since been issued regarding deportations under the Alien Enemies Act.

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US Deportation of Venezuelans Defies Court Order

Despite a US judge’s order halting deportations, hundreds of alleged gang members were deported from the US to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act. These individuals were immediately transferred to El Salvador’s high-capacity Terrorism Confinement Center for a potentially extended period. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanked El Salvador’s President Bukele for his cooperation, highlighting the strengthening diplomatic ties between the two countries. This action reflects President Trump’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal immigration and designates the deportations as a key component of his administration’s security agenda.

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Judge Blocks Trump’s Use of Wartime Act for Deportations

President Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport five Venezuelan nationals, citing their affiliation with the designated terrorist organization Tren de Aragua. This action, immediately challenged by the ACLU and Democracy Forward, was temporarily blocked by a federal judge who issued a 14-day restraining order. The lawsuit argues the act’s wartime application is inappropriate during peacetime and violates established immigration procedures. The judge’s order maintains the status quo pending a full hearing.

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Judge Blocks Trump’s Attempt to Use Alien Enemies Act for Deportations

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order, blocking President Trump’s attempt to utilize the 1798 Alien Enemies Act for expedited deportations of Venezuelan gang members. The judge ruled the act’s provisions regarding invasion or incursion did not apply to the situation, as the current circumstances did not meet the criteria of war. This class-action lawsuit, brought by two nonprofits, challenges the President’s proclamation, which invoked the act to deport members of the Tren de Aragua gang, designated as a foreign terrorist organization. A further hearing is scheduled, and the Trump administration plans to appeal the ruling.

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Trump Invokes 1798 Law, Raising Fears of Mass Deportations and Human Rights Abuses

President Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to authorize mass deportations of Venezuelan citizens affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang, fulfilling a campaign promise. This controversial law, previously used to justify Japanese internment during WWII, grants the president broad powers to bypass due process and target foreign nationals based on their nationality, not individual actions. The directive targets Venezuelans aged 14 and older who are not US citizens or lawful permanent residents, raising significant human rights concerns. Trump’s actions follow anti-immigrant rhetoric and have been condemned by critics as a potential abuse of presidential power.

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Alien Enemies Act Invoked Against Venezuelan Gang: Legal Challenge Looms

This proclamation declares that the Tren de Aragua (TdA), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, is perpetrating an invasion of the United States, engaging in hostile actions and irregular warfare. Leveraging the Alien Enemies Act, the President orders the apprehension, detention, and removal of all Venezuelan TdA members over 14 residing in the U.S. who are not naturalized citizens or lawful permanent residents. The Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security are directed to execute this action, seizing relevant property as necessary. This action is justified by the threat posed to national security and public safety.

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Trump Uses 18th-Century Law to Deport Gang Members; Judge Issues Stay

President Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, citing a Venezuelan gang’s alleged invasion of the U.S., to justify mass deportations. A federal judge immediately issued a temporary restraining order, preventing the deportation of five Venezuelans already in government custody, arguing a delay wouldn’t harm the government. The judge’s action came hours after Trump’s announcement and in response to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU and Democracy Forward. The administration appealed the order, claiming it would impede national security actions.

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Trump Threatens National Emergency, Military Deployment for Mass Deportations

President-elect Trump confirmed plans to declare a national emergency to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, utilizing military assets for mass deportations. This initiative, supported by a team of hardline immigration officials including Tom Homan and Stephen Miller, involves expanding detention facilities and creating executive orders designed to withstand legal challenges. The plan aims to end humanitarian paroles for migrants from several countries and potentially leverage the Alien Enemies Act, despite legal hurdles. Trump’s administration intends to aggressively pursue this agenda, potentially impacting millions of individuals and the national economy.

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