Two judges bar war-powers deportations
The Trump administration was blocked from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport more alleged Venezuelan gang members


What happened
Federal judges in Texas and New York Wednesday blocked the Trump administration from using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members, the first such rulings since the Supreme Court lifted a nationwide injunction on Monday.
Who said what
Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan and Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. in Brownsville, Texas, issued separate temporary restraining orders barring the administration from using the rarely invoked 18th century wartime powers to deport migrants in their districts. Rodriguez, a Donald Trump appointee, said he wanted to ensure more Venezuelans weren't deported to El Salvador's notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) from southern Texas until at least April 23, because if they were sent there "erroneously" — as happened with Kilmar Abrego García — a "substantial likelihood exists that the individual could not be returned."
"We're confident that people that are there should be there, and they should stay there for the rest of their lives," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Wednesday. CBS's "60 Minutes" reported Sunday that 75% of the 238 Venezuelans quietly deported from Texas to CECOT on March 15 had no discoverable criminal records; Bloomberg said Wednesday that about 90% of them had no U.S. criminal record.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said his team was still hoping to get another nationwide injunction but was prepared to "go district by district" to block Alien Enemies Act deportations.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
5 richly deserved political cartoons about tax breaks for billionaires
Cartoons Artists take on Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'
-
The cinematic beauty of Sicily's Aeolian Islands
The Week Recommends These scattered islands have inspired film directors since the 1950s
-
How the civil service works – and why critics say it needs reform
The Explainer Keir Starmer wants to 'rewire' Whitehall, which he has claimed is too 'comfortable in the tepid bath of managed decline'
-
Donald Trump's foreign policy flip in the Middle East
Talking Point Surprise lifting of sanctions on Syria shows Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar are now effectively 'dictating US foreign policy'
-
Elon Musk says he's 'done enough' political spending. What does that really mean?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The world's richest man predicted he'd do 'a lot less' electoral financing moving forward. Has Washington seen the last of the tech titan?
-
Tied Supreme Court blocks church charter school
speed read The court upheld the Oklahoma Supreme Court's decision to bar overtly religious public charter schools
-
'Organ donation is kindness'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
GOP megabill would limit judicial oversight of Trump
speed read The domestic policy bill Republicans pushed through the House would protect the Trump administration from the consequences of violating court orders
-
Home energy: Bills are up, efficiency is out
Feature The Energy Star program saves Americans billions of dollars, but the Trump administration plans to 'eliminate' it.
-
Judge scolds DOJ over Newark mayor arrest
speed read Ras Baraka was arrested during a May 9 surprise visit to a migrant detention facility
-
Trump lectures South Africa president on 'white genocide'
speed read Trump has cut off aid to South Africa over his demonstrably false genocide claims