President Donald Trump’s administration has taken unprecedented action by invoking the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, marking the first use of this wartime law since World War II. The move allows swift deportations or asylum processes, targeting those aged 14+ with alleged gang ties. Federal Judge James Boasberg temporarily blocked the deportations hours after Trump’s proclamation, but reports indicate flights to El Salvador and Honduras occurred anyway.
– : Nearly 300 alleged Tren de Aragua members were sent to El Salvador under a $6 million agreement to imprison them for one year. Another 350 Venezuelans, including some held at Guantanamo Bay, were recently deported.
– : The ACLU sued preemptively, securing a two-week pause on deportations for five detainees. The DOJ immediately appealed, arguing courts shouldn’t block national security actions preemptively.
– : Trump declared the gang an “invading force” collaborating with Venezuela’s Maduro regime. Critics argue the law was designed for wartime-state conflicts, not criminal organizations.
Border arrests plummeted to — the lowest since the 1960s — as Trump’s policies took effect. The administration plans further use of Guantanamo for detentions, while preparing for a Supreme Court battle over presidential authority. Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized “America’s borders are closed to illegal entry,” signaling an end to catch-and-release policies.
Though Trump claims this action protects Americans from “devastating crime,” civil liberties groups warn it revives the same legal framework used for Japanese internment camps. With deportations continuing despite court orders, this constitutional clash appears headed for historic judicial review.
