Judge issues decree halting evictions under antiquated law invoked by Trump's administration
A Aussie Judge Just Dealt the Trump Admin a Heavy Blow in Texas!
Whoa, buckle up, folks! It looks like a federal judge in Texas has handed the Trump administration a massive setback regarding their attempts to deport Venezuelan immigrants under an 18th-century war law. Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., a man appointed by none other than President Trump himself in 2018, had the audacity to declare that the administration's use of this law was, you guessed it, illegal!
In what he calls a "permanent injunction," this furious judge has blocked the Trump administration from deporting any Venezuelan immigrants from the southern part of Texas under the Alien Enemies Act (AEA). It's worth mentioning that this judge isn't arguing over trivial matters – he's tackling the Administration's claim that these Venezuelan immigrants are members of dangerous gangs trying to invade the United States.
Judge Rodriguez asserted that the Administration's invocation of the AEA via the March proclamation was a clear violation of the law's scope and purpose. In other words, the Administration's attempt to expand their powers to handle immigration issues is “toothless,” according to this fella. He's saying that the Administration overstepped their boundaries by using the AEA to target Venezuelan immigrants, a law that can only be applied during an "armed, organized attack" or "predatory incursion" by a foreign nation, not for rounding up gang members.
Now, listen up, because things are getting interesting! This ain't the first time the Administration has suffered a legal blow over their aggressive immigration policies. There have been multiple temporary blocks on AEA deportations in the past, but Judge Rodriguez's decision marks the first definitive rejection of the Administration's legal arguments for these removals. The question is, will the Administration appeal this ruling and test their luck with the conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals based in New Orleans? Stay tuned, because this legal battle is far from over!
Oh, and for those of you who are curious, the AEA has only been used three times in the history of the good ol' U.S. of A., last during World War II when it was used to intern Japanese Americans. Talk about some high stakes!
Sources:
- Lee, T., & Karukatla, N. (2025, May 1). Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Use of Alien Enemies Act to Deport Venezuelans Accused of Being Gang Members. Rolling Stone.
- Wong, M. (2025, May 1). Texas judge blocks Trump attempt to use war-era law to deport Venezuelans. The Guardian.
- Woodruff, A., & Wildau, M. (2025, May 1). Judge blocks Trump administration from deporting Venezuelans using 18th-century war law. NBC News.
- The Trump administration's policy to deport Venezuelan immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) has been challenged in a 'permanent injunction' by Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr.
- In his ruling, Judge Rodriguez argued that the Administration's use of the AEA to deport Venezuelan immigrants is a violation of the law's scope and purpose.
- The ACLU and general news outlets like Rolling Stone, The Guardian, and NBC News have invoked the war-and-conflicts context to discuss the legal implications of Judge Rodriguez's decision.
- The Aragua region in Venezuela has been a hotspot of political unrest and conflicts, making it a topic of politics interest alongside the Trump Administration's immigration policy and legislation.
- Mark Wong of The Guardian reported that this decision marks the first definitive rejection of the Administration's legal arguments for AEA deportations, potentially setting a significant legal precedent for future immigration cases.
