A US federal judge has given the green light for the Trump administration to use a wartime law from 1798 to deport a Venezuelan man suspected of being part of the Tren de Aragua gang. The ruling, delivered by District Judge Stephanie Haines, affirmed that the deportation was legal under the Alien Enemies Act (AEA), which had been invoked by the Trump administration earlier this year. This law, rarely used in modern times, was also employed during World War II to detain Japanese-American citizens.
Judge Haines, who was appointed by Trump, stated that while the AEA could be used in this case, authorities must ensure that deportees are given sufficient notice. The judge ruled that deportation subjects must be notified at least 21 days in advance, ensuring due process is followed. She emphasized that the suspected gang members, including the Venezuelan man referred to only as ‘A.S.R.’, posed a serious threat to US public safety, linking them to illegal drug trafficking and public disruption.
The ruling is seen as a significant legal development in the ongoing debate over deportation policies and could influence future cases in Pennsylvania, where Judge Haines presides. Trump’s administration has labeled the Tren de Aragua group a “foreign terrorist organization,” and the government has funded El Salvador to imprison deported members of the gang. However, several legal challenges continue, as some deportees argue they were wrongfully targeted due to tattoos and accusations of gang affiliation without evidence of criminal activity.
