Overview

• U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. issued a permanent injunction halting the Trump administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) to deport alleged members of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang in the Southern District of Texas.
• The ruling found that the administration failed to demonstrate an 'organized, armed incursion' or a state of war, both prerequisites for invoking the AEA.
• The Department of Justice argued in separate court filings that only the president has the authority to determine if the AEA's conditions are met, a stance that has drawn legal challenges nationwide.
• Over 100 Venezuelan nationals have already been deported to El Salvador under the AEA, sparking criticism over due process violations and the policy's human rights implications.
• The administration plans to appeal the ruling while continuing its broader efforts to end deportation protections for Venezuelans under Temporary Protected Status.