Appeals Court Blocks Trump Deportations Under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act

The Trump administration can't use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to quickly deport Venezuelans who are allegedly gang members. The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled in a two-to-one decision on Tuesday night. Trump invoked the wartime law in March, which allows the fast-track removal of foreign nationals during invasion or predatory incursion. However, the court said the inflow of illegal immigrants can't be treated as an invasion. Our analysis leads us to grant a preliminary injunction to prevent removal because we find no invasion or predatory incursion, reads the ruling. A country's encouraging its residents and citizens to enter this country illegally is not the modern-day equivalent of sending an armed, organized force to occupy, to disrupt or to otherwise harm the United States, it continues. you