Judge Won’t Pause Deportation Flights Under Alien Enemies Act

 

Judge Won’t Pause Deportation Flights Under Alien Enemies Act

A federal judge has ruled that deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act will not be paused, allowing the U.S. government to proceed with removing individuals from the country. The decision came after legal challenges from advocacy groups and immigration lawyers who argued that the deportations were unjust and violated the rights of those being removed. However, the court sided with the Trump administration, which insisted that it retains the authority to deport individuals under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, especially in times of conflict or national security concerns.

The Alien Enemies Act, a rarely used law from the late 18th century, grants the president the power to detain or deport citizens of a foreign nation with which the U.S. is at war. The Trump administration argued that this law gives them the legal basis to proceed with deportations without delay, especially in cases involving individuals from countries considered adversarial to the United States.

Immigration advocates had hoped the court would issue an emergency order to halt the flights, citing humanitarian concerns and possible harm to individuals who may face persecution or violence upon return to their home countries. They also raised concerns about due process, arguing that many of those affected had not been given a fair opportunity to present their cases.

Despite these arguments, the judge ruled that the administration's actions did not violate existing law and that the president's authority under the Alien Enemies Act is legally valid in this context. The court emphasized that it is not its role to rewrite laws, but to interpret them as they are written.

As a result, the Trump administration announced that it will move forward with deportation flights as scheduled, potentially starting as early as tomorrow. The decision has sparked outrage among human rights organizations and immigration supporters, who fear the move could set a dangerous precedent and lead to more aggressive immigration enforcement in the future.

The situation continues to unfold, with legal teams expected to appeal the ruling in higher courts.