Judges block Trump’s unlawful deportation efforts under Alien Enemies Act

In recent months, a series of court rulings have challenged the Trump administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) to deport undocumented immigrants, particularly those belonging to the Venezuelan street gang Tren de Aragua. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ruled that the AEA was not validly invoked by the Trump administration to detain and deport alleged gang members, emphasizing that the president cannot declare undocumented immigrants as alien enemies without evidence of a declared war or invasion. Similarly, U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein further affirmed this stance by outlining that the administration's criteria for such deportations did not meet the legal standards established by the AEA. These judicial decisions come amid widespread criticism of the administration's immigration policies and reflect an ongoing legal struggle over executive power in immigration enforcement. The courts have maintained that due process must be upheld, challenging the administration’s attempts to act unilaterally in deportation cases. As a result, the rulings represent a significant pushback against the Trump administration's immigration strategy, illustrating the role of the judiciary in protecting constitutional rights against perceived overreach by the executive branch. The fight over the interpretation of the AEA remains ongoing, with several other judges weighing in on the matter, indicating a growing consensus that the law should only apply in times of war or invasion. Legal experts speculate that further appeals and challenges could lead to more definitive rulings, with the potential for the Supreme Court to ultimately interpret the scope of the AEA and the executive's deportation powers under it.