Federal Judge blocks Trump-Era migrant deportations, citing legal overreach


The U.S. deported more than 130 immigrants to the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador. (AFP/Getty Images)

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	Fernando Rodriguez Jr. speaks before the Senate Judiciary Committee in November 2017. From Senate Judiciary Committee/File
	Federal Judge blocks Trump-Era migrant deportations, citing legal overreach Tanya Sommerfield - Immigration/Law Tell Us USA News Network BROWNSVILLE, TX - A federal judge in Texas has ruled that former President Trump exceeded his authority by invoking the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants without due process. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. found that the administration’s claim of an “invasion” lacked evidence and violated existing immigration laws, specifically the Immigration and Nationality Act, which outlines proper deportation procedures, including hearings. His ruling permanently blocks such removals in South Texas and delivers a significant legal setback to the administration’s immigration enforcement strategy. Rodriguez’s ruling emphasizes that a president cannot unilaterally declare an invasion to justify emergency powers, particularly in peacetime. Immigration lawyers and advocates praised the decision, arguing that the Alien Enemies Act—an 18th-century wartime statute—was never intended for broad use against migrants in modern immigration policy. The American Civil Liberties Union and other legal groups say the ruling sets an important precedent, curbing executive authority over immigration enforcement and reinforcing due process rights. This case is part of a broader legal battle over immigration policies. Courts in New York, Pennsylvania, and Colorado have issued temporary restraining orders against similar deportations under the act, signaling wider judicial opposition. Rodriguez’s ruling, however, is the first to permanently block such deportations, potentially influencing future immigration enforcement efforts and shaping legal interpretations of executive power in immigration matters. With increasing scrutiny from federal courts, the ruling raises questions about how future administrations will handle migration and deportation, particularly regarding emergency powers and due process protections.