Two federal judges on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration from using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan nationals, issuing preliminary injunctions in New York and Colorado.
U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein (Southern District of New York) ruled that President Trump’s invocation of the wartime law lacked legal grounding, noting that the statute requires a state of “war, invasion or predatory incursion,” which does not exist. Judge Charlotte Sweeney (District of Colorado) issued a similar ruling, stating the administration likely exceeded its legal authority.
Both cases have been expanded into class actions covering all Venezuelans potentially subject to the proclamation. Hellerstein condemned the deportations to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, calling it “a notoriously evil jail” and highlighting the denial of communication rights and due process.
Trump had sought to deport individuals aged 14 and older with alleged ties to the Tren de Aragua gang. Tuesday’s rulings follow a similar injunction in Texas by Trump-appointed Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr.
The ACLU, leading the legal challenge, called the court decisions a vital check on presidential overreach.
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