A federal judge in Texas, appointed by Donald Trump, ruled against the president's use of the Alien Enemies Act to expedite the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members, deeming it unlawful. Judge Fernando Rodriguez determined that the 18th Century wartime authority cannot be applied during peacetime, as it was designed for use only when the US is at war. This decision represents a significant challenge to Trump's March attempt to invoke the act and is the first final ruling on the matter, despite previous legal challenges. Rodriguez emphasized that allowing the president to define the conditions for invoking the act would undermine judicial oversight and exceed executive authority. While the ruling halts the use of the Alien Enemies Act, the judge noted that other immigration laws could still be applied, and the individuals involved remain detained in Texas.

A Trump-appointed federal judge, Fernando Rodriguez, ruled that the president's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members was unlawful, stating the act is intended for wartime use only.

Rodriguez's ruling is the first to conclude that the president exceeded his authority by applying an 18th Century wartime law during peacetime, despite multiple legal challenges to its use by the Trump administration.

The ruling prevents the administration from detaining or deporting members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua under the Alien Enemies Act in Rodriguez's district.

The decision underscores the importance of judicial oversight, as Rodriguez warned against allowing the president to unilaterally determine the conditions for invoking the act, which would strip courts of their role in interpreting congressional statutes.

Lee Gelernt from the American Civil Liberties Union highlighted the ruling's significance, affirming that this is the first court decision to address whether wartime authority can be used in peacetime, concluding it cannot.

The Venezuelans involved in the lawsuit narrowly avoided deportation to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act, with flights planned to take them to a notorious prison earlier in the year.

Despite the ruling against the use of the Alien Enemies Act, the Venezuelans remain detained in Texas, with the judge indicating that other immigration laws could still apply to their cases.