Trump Administration Defies Court Order, Deporting Hundreds Under 1798 Alien Enemies Act

Federal judge temporarily blocks deportations, but flights carrying Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador proceed despite the order.

President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, historically used during wartime, to deport Venezuelan migrants accused of gang affiliations.
A federal judge issued a nationwide temporary restraining order halting the deportations, but two planes carrying migrants had already departed and were not recalled.
El Salvador received over 250 Venezuelan migrants and 23 MS-13 members, transferring them to its high-security CECOT prison under a prior agreement with the U.S.
Critics, including the ACLU and human rights groups, argue the move is unconstitutional and an unprecedented abuse of presidential powers in a non-wartime context.
The legal battle continues, with a hearing scheduled for Friday to determine the broader legality of the administration's actions under the Alien Enemies Act.