Trump invokes Alien Enemies Act in mass deportation effort

President Trump invoked the Aliens Enemies Act (AEA) of 1798 on Saturday, fulfilling a campaign promise and GOP party platform point by initiating a concerted effort to remove Venezuelan undocumented immigrants believed to be members of the Tren de Aragua gang, a newly designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Trump has ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to provide a copy of the invocation to the Supreme Court Chief Justice, all governors in addition to the highest-ranking judicial officer for every state and territory in the United States.
“I proclaim that all Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age or older who are members of TdA [Tren de Aragua], are within the United States, and are not actually naturalized or lawful permanent residents of the United States are liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as Alien Enemies,” Trump wrote in the proclamation, which grants Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the authority to enforce deportation measures.
The president’s move comes hours after a judge temporarily blocked the removal of 5 Venezuelans who the Trump administration says are members of Tren de Aragua.
The Justice Department has argued the individuals should be removed under the Aliens Enemies Act although they were detained by immigration officials prior to President Trump’s decision to invoke the act.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg is presiding over a Saturday emergency hearing to decide if the administration will have to postpone all potential deportations of individuals expected to be repatriated under the Saturday proclamation for a period of two weeks.
The AEA was last invoked under former President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II to detain people of Italian, German and Japanese descent.
”The law is best known for its role in Japanese internment, a shameful part of U.S. history for which Congress, presidents, and the courts have apologized,” according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
It is the last remaining pillar of the four Alien and Sedition acts. The three others were either repealed or have expired.
The Alien and Enemies Act is also only applicable under the conditions of war, which has not yet been declared by Congress, according to the Brennan Center.
-
Judge blocks Trump admin from deporting 5 Venezuelans amid plans to invoke Alien Enemies Act
A federal judge on Saturday preemptively blocked the Trump administration's reported efforts to quickly deport five Venezuelan nationals under the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) of 1798. The move from ...The Hill - 1d -
Judge expands temporary block on Trump's plan to use the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans
President Donald Trump on Saturday invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target a Venezuelan gang he accused of "unlawfully infiltrating" the United States.NBC News - 1d -
Judge blocks Trump administration from implementing Alien Enemies Act
A federal judge expanded his ruling temporarily blocking the Trump administration from invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 on Saturday preventing the removal of Venezuelan undocumented ...The Hill - 1d -
Live updates: Trump blocked from using Alien Enemies Act; Houthis vow retaliation after US airstrikes
A federal judge expanded his ruling temporarily blocking the Trump administration from invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 on Saturday, preventing the removal of Venezuelan undocumented ...The Hill - 12h -
What is the Alien Enemies Act Trump invoked to speed deportations?
President Trump has invoked the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act to allow the federal government to detain or deport people from countries deemed foreign adversaries, including targeting cartels as ...The Hill - 1d -
Trump to invoke wartime power from 1798 for Guantanamo deportations
President Trump is planning to invoke a wartime law known as the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 as soon as Friday to authorize the summary deportation of some migrants.CBS News - 3d -
Judge blocks Trump from using 18th-century wartime act for deportations
Trump had invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport five Venezuelans, but order halted by judge. Alien Enemies Act: what is it and can Trump use it to deport gang members? Donald Trump ...The Guardian - 1d -
A judge limits Trump's ability to deport people under the 18th century Alien Enemies Act
A federal judge on Saturday blocked the Trump administration from using an 18th century law known as the Alien Enemies Act to deport five Venezuelans, kicking off a blizzard of litigation over the ...NBC News - 1d -
White House touts deportations under Alien Enemies Act after a judge temporarily blocked its use
The Trump administration announced deportations of hundreds of immigrants it alleges are members of a Venezuelan gang to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act.NBC News - 13h
More from The Hill
-
Waltz: All options 'on the table' to ensure Iran does not have a nuclear weapon
National security adviser Mike Waltz said on Sunday that all options are “on the table” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. In an interview on ABC News’s “This Week,” anchor Martha ...The Hill - 7h -
Crockett rips Fetterman for slamming her viral video: 'I don’t show up in hoodies'
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) fired back at Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) after he criticized as “bizarre” a widely circulated “choose-your-fighter” TikTok video featuring several Democratic ...The Hill - 7h -
Waltz confirms US airstrikes 'took out' multiple Houthi leaders
National security adviser Mike Waltz confirmed on Sunday that U.S. airstrikes “took out” multiple Houthi leaders in attacks this weekend. Asked how the U.S. attacks this weekend differ from strikes ...The Hill - 8h -
Trump says he was 'being a little bit sarcastic' when he promised to end Ukraine war in 24 hours
President Trump said on Sunday he was “being a little bit sarcastic” when he pledged to end the war between Ukraine and Russia in 24 hours. In a Sunday broadcast of “Full Measure,” Trump was ...The Hill - 10h -
Democratic Party’s favorability hits record low: Poll
The Democratic Party’s favorability rating has hit a record low, according to a CNN survey released Sunday. The survey, conducted March 6-9, shows 54 percent of surveyed U.S. adults say they have ...The Hill - 11h
More in Politics
-
‘Full of despair’: Senate Dems look to regroup after losing shutdown fight
Democrats are openly questioning whether they lost their last point of leverage by ceding to Republicans in the latest skirmish over funding the government.Politico - 2h -
Waltz: All options 'on the table' to ensure Iran does not have a nuclear weapon
National security adviser Mike Waltz said on Sunday that all options are “on the table” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. In an interview on ABC News’s “This Week,” anchor Martha ...The Hill - 7h -
Crockett rips Fetterman for slamming her viral video: 'I don’t show up in hoodies'
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) fired back at Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) after he criticized as “bizarre” a widely circulated “choose-your-fighter” TikTok video featuring several Democratic ...The Hill - 7h -
Waltz confirms US airstrikes 'took out' multiple Houthi leaders
National security adviser Mike Waltz confirmed on Sunday that U.S. airstrikes “took out” multiple Houthi leaders in attacks this weekend. Asked how the U.S. attacks this weekend differ from strikes ...The Hill - 8h -
New poll shows Trump with highest job approval, but early challenges on the economy
A new NBC News poll shows President Trump with a job approval rating as high as he’s ever had. But doubts loom in voters' minds, especially over the economy and government cuts. NBC News’ Yamiche ...NBC News - 10h