Court Blocks Trump Administration's Alien Enemies Act Deportations

Washington D.C. A federal appeals court today denied the Trump administration's request to lift a lower court's order blocking deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. The ruling upholds U.S. District Judge James Boasberg's previous decision, which prohibited the administration from using the president's invocation of the Act to deport individuals suspected of being Venezuelan gang members.

The Alien Enemies Act, a law dating back to 1798, allows the president to detain or deport citizens of enemy nations during times of war or declared national emergency. The Trump administration argued that the situation at the southern border constituted a national emergency, justifying the use of the Act.

However, Judge Boasberg and now the appeals court have disagreed, citing concerns about due process and the potential for abuse of power. Critics of the administration's policy have argued that it unfairly targets Venezuelan nationals and lacks sufficient evidence to justify the use of the Alien Enemies Act. The Department of Justice has not yet commented on whether it will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. The case highlights ongoing debates about immigration enforcement and the limits of presidential power.