Federal Appeals Court Upholds Order Barring Deportation Of Venezuelans

• Federal appeals court upheld ruling against deporting Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador.

• Concerns over use of 18th-century wartime law cited by U.S. Court of Appeals.

• Trump administration deported hundreds under Alien Enemies Act targeting Tren de Aragua gang.

People hold a banner that reads in Spanish, "Migrating is not a crime; sanctioning a people is," at a government-organized march to protest the deportation from the U.S. of alleged members of the Vene

AP

A federal appeals court has declined to lift an order preventing the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a ruling that temporarily halts deportations, citing concerns over the use of the 18th-century wartime law.

The Trump administration had deported hundreds of individuals under a presidential proclamation targeting the Tren de Aragua gang as an invading force, marking the first use of the Alien Enemies Act since World War II. However, a U.S. District Judge had blocked further deportations and ordered the return of Venezuelan immigrants who were already deported.

The case, brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of five Venezuelan noncitizens detained in Texas, has sparked a legal battle between the White House and the federal courts. The appeals court panel voted against lifting the deportation ban, emphasizing the need to address complex legal issues before proceeding with deportations.

While the government argued for the injunction to be lifted, the court maintained that the status quo should be maintained to protect the rights of the plaintiffs. The ruling does not prevent the government from detaining migrants under the presidential proclamation but prohibits immediate deportations.

The ongoing legal dispute has raised questions about due process and the limits of executive authority. Chief Judge Boasberg has expressed concerns about potential defiance of court orders by the administration, prompting a standoff over the disclosure of deportation details.

The Alien Enemies Act allows for the deportation of noncitizens without a hearing, but the recent ruling emphasizes the importance of providing individuals with the opportunity to challenge their designation as gang members before facing deportation.

As the legal battle continues, the court's decision to uphold the deportation ban underscores the significance of protecting the rights of immigrants and ensuring due process under the law.