A federal judge on Saturday blocked Trump's administration preemptively It reported efforts to expel five Venezuelan citizens quickly under the Alien Enemy Act (AEA) of 1798.
The move from US District Judge James Boasberg comes just hours after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a motion for President Trump. It has been reported Plans to call the AEA to accelerate the removal of undocumented immigrants from the US
A civil rights group representing five individuals in immigration custody, has called on federal judges to block the use of the law, although Trump himself has not called it yet.
A federal judge granted the restraining order on Saturday, and determined that since the administration cannot remove five plaintiffs for two weeks, the judge could first hold a hearing on their challenge.
A remote hearing is scheduled for Saturday at 5pm, and the ACLU asks judges to expand the order to anyone who may be affected by the AEA.
The ruling comes after several media outlets reported Thursday that they hoped the president would give him a broader authority in the coming days to drive away undocumented immigrants with almost legitimate procedures.
In its submission, the ACLU said the government, alongside the advancement of democracy and the District of Columbia ACLU, has moved the plaintiffs to a Texas facility. The group claimed that the administration is using these facilities “as a staging facility to eliminate Venezuelan men under the AEA.”
In a court filing, the group wrote that five individuals “afflict that they had asylum seeking. For example, his stepfather was a political dissident, and one fled Venezuela after he was beaten by police.”
Tren de Aragua, a cross-border crime group designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization, is originally from Venezuela. It is believed to have more than 5,000 members, and is one of the main targets of the current administration.
The AEA was previously called three times during the ongoing war. According to Go to Brennan Justice Center.
“In World War II and II, the law was a key authority behind detention, expulsion and restrictions targeting immigrants in Germany, Austria-Hungary, Japan and Italy based solely on ancestors,” the Policy Centre wrote. “The law is best known for its role in Japan's internment. It is a shameful part of US history, which has been apologised by Congress, the president and courts.”
Oka reached out to the White House and the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
