Trump Invokes 1798 Alien Enemies Act to Expel Venezuelan Gang Members

Over 200 members of Tren de Aragua have been deported to El Salvador despite a federal judge's attempt to halt the expulsions.

The Trump administration used the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, last employed during World War II, to expel over 200 alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to El Salvador.
A federal judge temporarily blocked the expulsions, but the planes carrying the detainees had already departed when the ruling was issued.
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele confirmed the detainees' arrival and incarceration in a high-security prison, supporting the U.S. decision.
The Venezuelan government condemned the expulsions as a violation of human rights, while critics argue the use of wartime powers during peacetime is unprecedented and illegal.
Human rights organizations warn that this action could set a dangerous precedent for mass deportations under the Alien Enemies Act.