A federal judge in Texas — appointed by Donald Trump himself — has just ruled that Trump's controversial attempt to invoke the Alien Enemies Act to carry out mass deportations is unlawful.
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The ruling, handed down moments ago by U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., sharply rebukes the legal foundation behind Trump's recent immigration push. According to the court order, the president’s proclamation cannot be enforced because it lacks the necessary wartime or national security justification required under the 1798 statute.
While the Alien Enemies Act has existed for over two centuries — originally passed during heightened tensions with France — it has rarely been used in modern times and never in a context lacking an active state of war.
What makes today's ruling particularly significant is that it comes from within Trump's own judicial legacy. Judge Rodriguez, nominated by Trump in 2018 and confirmed with strong Republican support, has now formally blocked Trump’s use of this controversial statute in court.
Trump has yet to respond publicly to the decision. Read the full opinion here.
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