Texas Judge Blocks Trump's Use of Alien Enemies Act for Venezuelan Deportations

A Trump-appointed federal judge, Fernando Rodriguez Jr., has permanently blocked the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) to deport Venezuelan nationals in South Texas, ruling that the administration exceeded its authority by invoking the 18th-century wartime law. Judge Rodriguez determined that the AEA applies only in cases of declared war or military invasion, and that claims of invasion by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua did not meet the statute's requirements. The ruling emphasized that due process under existing immigration law must be followed, and that the government failed to provide evidence of an 'organized armed attack' as required by the AEA. While the decision only restricts AEA-based deportations, it leaves open the possibility for the administration to pursue removals under other immigration statutes. The judge's opinion marks the first permanent judicial invalidation of the administration's legal rationale for using the AEA in immigration enforcement. Immigrants affected by the ruling are now allowed to challenge their detentions in court, though they remain in custody pending further legal proceedings.