Immigrant deportations in west Texas temporarily halted by U.S. judge, invoking Alien Enemies Act.
Rewritten Article:
Get ready for a lowdown on the ongoing legal drama between Venezuelan immigrants and the Alien Enemies Act (AEA). This 18th-century law, flexed by the Trump administration, is causing quite a stir, especially regarding the Tren de Aragua gang.
Last week, David Briones – a judge in El Paso, Texas – blocked the deportations of Venezuelan immigrants under the AEA. This move followed a litany of rulings from other courts, adding fuel to the fire. Briones also ordered the release of a couple accused of being members of Tren de Aragua, stating that the government couldn't prove they had any legal basis to detain them for suspected alien enemy violations.
An attorney for the couple didn't return a request for comment over the weekend.
The Tren de Aragua has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. The president used the AEA, a law from 1798 that lets him deport noncitizens aged 14 or older from a war-stricken country, to round up these individuals.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court halted the deportations of Venezuelans in northern Texas under the act, making it clear that anyone facing deportation should get a fair hearing in federal court first.
Briones' ruling solely applies to Venezuelan immigrants in federal custody within his judicial district. Judges in Colorado, south Texas, and New York have passed similar verdicts. Briones also demanded the government to issue a 21-day notice before attempting to expel anyone in west Texas, in contrast to the 12 hours the government claims is sufficient.
The El Paso case comes at a time when the Trump administration and local authorities are at odds over the president's hard-line immigration policies. On the same day Briones made his ruling, the FBI arrested a Milwaukee judge accused of helping an individual escape immigration authorities.
Briones, a judge appointed by President Clinton in 1994, mentioned that "the due process requirements for the removal of noncitizens have been established for a long time" according to both the Immigration and Nationality Act and Supreme Court precedents.
"There's no doubt that the Executive Branch's unprecedented use of wartime power during peacetime has caused confusion and turmoil for individuals, as well as the judicial branch in terms of managing and evaluating the Executive's claims," Briones wrote.
The couple, Julio Cesar Sanchez Puentes, and Luddis Norelia Sanchez Garcia, were temporarily protected after entering the United States from Mexico in October 2022. They received notice that their status was terminated on April 1, leading to their arrest on April 16 at the El Paso airport as they prepared to head back to their home in Washington, D.C., where they live with their three children.
They had flown to Texas for an April 14 pretrial hearing related to removal proceedings. Their case was adjourned until June 23, allowing the couple to remain out on bail, according to court documents.
The ongoing challenges to the AEA's application to Venezuelan immigrants highlight concerns about due process, evidence, and human rights. The Trump administration's aggressive stance on immigration policies is testing the limits of this centuries-old law and the constitutional rights of those affected.
- The ongoing legal drama between Venezuelan immigrants and the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) is being closely monitored, particularly in the context of the Tren de Aragua gang.
- Last week, Judge David Briones in El Paso, Texas, blocked the deportations of Venezuelan immigrants under the AEA, stating that the government couldn't prove a legal basis for detaining a couple accused of being Tren de Aragua members.
- The Trump administration has used the AEA, a law from 1798, to deport individuals from a war-stricken country, including members of the Tren de Aragua who have been designated a foreign terrorist organization.
- The Supreme Court earlier this month halted the deportations of Venezuelans in northern Texas under the AEA, ensuring that anyone facing deportation gets a fair hearing in federal court first.
- Briones' ruling only applies to Venezuelan immigrants in federal custody within his judicial district, and judges in Colorado, south Texas, and New York have passed similar verdicts.
- The ongoing legal challenges to the AEA's application to Venezuelan immigrants raise questions about due process, evidence, and human rights, as the Trump administration's hard-line immigration policies continue to test the limits of this centuries-old law and the constitutional rights of those affected.
