President Trump expressed his anger towards judges following a recent ruling that prohibited his administration from utilizing the Alien Enemy Act (AEA) of 1798 to deport Venezuelan gang members.
“Can the judges really prevent us from sending these individuals back to where they belong?” Trump voiced his frustration on social media. He added, “If that’s the situation, then our country is doomed! Americans will need to adapt to a very different, crime-ridden reality.” He emphasized, “This isn’t what our founders envisioned!”
This criticism came just days after District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., appointed by Trump, upheld a block on the use of the AEA, noting that it doesn’t permit officials to swiftly deport Venezuelan gang members to prisons in El Salvador.
In his ruling, Rodriguez pointed out that 18th-century laws apply only in cases where there is an “organized force” within the U.S., dismissing the administration’s argument about gangs from Venezuela. He stated, “The declaration does not indicate that an armed group from Venezuela is poised to invade or take control.”
Thus, he concluded that the situation couldn’t be interpreted as an “invasion” under the scope of the AEA.
Since Trump’s return to office, the AEA has played a vital role in his efforts to curb illegal immigration, with over 100 individuals reportedly deported to high-security facilities in El Salvador, with their gang affiliations inferred from tattoos.
This crackdown has faced significant backlash, particularly from Democrats, who argue that the deportations lack proper legal procedures.
On the same day, the administration asked the Supreme Court to terminate deportation protections, known as Temporary Protection Status (TPS), for over 600,000 Venezuelans, seeking to overturn another district judge’s ruling that had paused these deportations amid ongoing litigation.
