Overview

• Attorney General Pam Bondi's March 14 memo invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua without hearings or judicial review.
• The memo authorizes warrantless home entries and uses a controversial point-based validation guide to classify suspects based on tattoos, graffiti, and other indicators.
• Over 200 Venezuelans were deported to El Salvador’s CECOT prison on March 15, a facility criticized internationally for overcrowding and abuse.
• The Supreme Court and multiple lower courts have ruled that detainees have habeas corpus rights, and injunctions have temporarily halted deportations in several states.
• Civil rights groups and legal experts argue the policy undermines constitutional protections, with ongoing lawsuits challenging its legality and implementation.