Judge Condemns Deportations Under 1798 ‘Alien Enemies Act,’ Blocking Further Expulsions of Venezuelans

A federal judge in New York denounced the Trump administration’s use of the centuries-old Alien Enemies Act to swiftly deport Venezuelan asylum-seekers to El Salvador, calling it a “legal and moral outrage.” The ruling halts additional removals under that act in the judge’s jurisdiction. Over 200 migrants have already been sent abroad with minimal due process. While the White House claims they pose security risks, critics see it as an extreme misuse of a law meant for wartime “enemy aliens.” Other courts have similarly criticized the administration’s tactic, raising the likelihood of more legal obstacles.