Federal Judge Upholds President Trump’s Use of Alien Enemies Act to Deport Venezuelan Gang Members
In a landmark ruling, a federal judge has confirmed that President Donald Trump may lawfully invoke the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) to deport illegal immigrants affiliated with violent foreign gangs—marking a major victory for the administration’s renewed crackdown on transnational crime and border security.
The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Stephanie Haines in Pennsylvania, upholds the president’s March 14 proclamation, which designated Tren de Aragua—a notoriously brutal gang out of Venezuela—as an active foreign threat engaged in what Trump described as an “incursion” into the United States. The group, along with MS-13, has been officially labeled a terrorist organization under Trump’s directive.
Judge Haines, a Trump appointee, ruled that the AEA may be applied to deport Venezuelan nationals age 14 and older who are residing in the U.S. unlawfully and are identified as members of Tren de Aragua. The decision also affirmed that the president has the legal authority to act decisively when foreign enemies endanger national security, even without waiting for drawn-out court proceedings.
“This case poses significant issues that are deeply interwoven with the constitutional principles upon which this Nation’s government is founded,” Haines wrote in her decision. “In approaching these issues, the Court begins by stressing the questions that it is not resolving at this time.”
While the judge ordered that migrants facing removal under the AEA be given at least 21 days’ notice—an increase from the 12-hour timeline some previously received—her ruling confirmed the core legality of Trump’s enforcement order.
“Having done its job, the Court now leaves it to the Political Branches of the government, and ultimately to the people who elect those individuals, to decide whether the laws and those executing them continue to reflect their will,” Haines wrote.
The proclamation issued in March triggered a wave of lawsuits from left-leaning immigration groups and foreign nationals contesting their deportations. One of those lawsuits involved a Venezuelan man who crossed the border in 2023 with his family, allegedly fleeing extortion. He was arrested after a neighbor reported ties to Tren de Aragua—a claim the individual denies.
Haines initially granted a temporary block on deportations in her district, approving a class-action status for the case. However, she lifted that designation this week, allowing deportations under the AEA to resume—provided the administration offers adequate notice and a chance for individuals to respond.
Meanwhile, in Texas, another Venezuelan national—previously granted temporary protected status under the Biden administration—is also facing deportation after being arrested and accused of gang affiliation. Her legal team is seeking intervention from Senior U.S. District Judge David Briones, arguing that Trump’s executive order violates due process and wrongly equates Tren de Aragua’s infiltration with a formal foreign invasion.
Despite the protests, Trump’s directive reflects a significant escalation in the fight against violent international crime networks operating within the U.S. His administration has already begun deporting identified gang members to prisons in El Salvador and other cooperating nations.
“These aren’t just migrants. These are hostile foreign actors tied to organized crime and terrorism,” one administration official said privately. “President Trump is using every lawful tool available to protect the American people. That’s leadership.”
The Alien Enemies Act, originally passed in 1798 and rarely used in modern times, grants the president special wartime powers to remove foreign nationals deemed dangerous. Critics have argued the law is outdated, but Judge Haines’ ruling affirms that it remains legally binding—and applicable in today’s national security environment.
As President Trump continues to restore constitutional order and enforce immigration law with precision and resolve, this court ruling sends a clear message: the days of sanctuary for foreign criminals are over.