A federal judge has temporarily blocked U.S. President Donald Trump from enforcing the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport immigrants.
The law, which allows the government to expel foreign nationals without trial during wartime, was last used during World War II.
On Friday, March 14, Trump signed a proclamation to deport a Venezuelan gang under the law.
However, the judge issued a 14-day restraining order the next day, halting deportations. The ruling required that a plane carrying detainees be turned around, but 261 people, including 137 suspected gang members, were still deported to El Salvador.
The White House denied violating the court order, claiming those deported had already left U.S. territory, though sources say flights carrying Venezuelan detainees were still airborne when the ruling was issued.
The case stems from a lawsuit filed by five Venezuelan men in U.S. immigration detention, arguing that the law should not apply since the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela.
Critics accuse Trump of pushing legal boundaries on immigration. During a Department of Justice visit, he defended his stance, saying, “These are stone-cold killers. These are killers like they make our killers look nice by comparison.”
As part of the deportation deal, the U.S. is set to pay El Salvador $6 million to detain 300 gang members for a year.
The Trump administration expects to win the case, which is now headed to the Supreme Court. The next hearing is scheduled for March 21.
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