BREAKING: Federal Judge Blocks Trump's Alien Enemies Act Proclamation

In a dramatic legal showdown,Donald Trump’s attempt to invoke rarely used war powers to deport foreign nationals alleged to be affiliated with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua has been halted—at least for now. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the measure, dealing an early blow to Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement strategy.

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In a stunning legal twist, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg—an Obama-era appointee—issued a 14-day injunction blocking the order from taking effect. His ruling temporarily halts the mass deportation effort and requires the Trump administration to immediately cease any active removal efforts under the proclamation.

Most notably, Judge Boasberg ordered planes already in the air carrying noncitizens under the proclamation to be turned around—a rare and forceful intervention in immigration enforcement. However, he clarified that his authority does not extend to individuals who have already landed in other countries, meaning some deportations may have already taken place before the ruling.

Trump’s executive action, which was officially signed on Friday but publicly released by the White House on Saturday, relied on the Alien Enemies Act of 1798—a law originally designed to expel foreign nationals from enemy nations during wartime or invasion. The decision to dust off this centuries-old statute was seen by many as a legal maneuver to bypass existing immigration protocols, allowing the federal government to swiftly deport noncitizens deemed a security threat.

This injunction represents a significant early defeat for Trump, whose administration has made combating undocumented immigration a cornerstone of its policies. The use of the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime authority, was an unprecedented step that has sparked intense legal and political debate.

The 14-day injunction is only a temporary measure, but it signals a protracted legal battle ahead. Over the next two weeks, the Trump administration will have to argue in court why the Alien Enemies Act should—or should not—be used in this context. Given the controversy surrounding the decision, the case could quickly escalate to higher courts, potentially even reaching the Supreme Court.