A US federal judge has blocked Donald Trump’s attempt to expedite the deportation of undocumented migrants under a law dating back to the 18th century.
The ruling came just hours after Trump invoked powers under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 in a proclamation issued on Saturday (15 March), specifically targeting Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang recently designated as a foreign terrorist organisation, reports Bloomberg.
The Act, which grants the president broad authority over foreign nationals from hostile nations, was infamously used to justify the internment of Japanese-Americans during the Second World War.
The court’s decision marks a significant legal setback for Trump, who has sought to intensify immigration enforcement as part of his broader policy agenda.
The ruling underscores the judicial pushback against executive measures that attempt to leverage archaic statutes for contemporary immigration challenges.
