District Court Permanently Blocks Deportations of Alleged Venezuelan Gang Members under AEA
A Texas federal district court permanently enjoined the Trump Administration from deporting alleged gang members from Venezuela under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act (AEA), finding the gang’s conduct within the United States does not constitute an “invasion.” (J.A.V. et al. v. Trump et al., 5/1/25)
U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. concluded: “[T]the President’s invocation of the AEA through the Proclamation exceeds the scope of the statute and, as a result, is unlawful. Respondents do not possess the lawful authority under the AEA, and based on the Proclamation, to detain Venezuelan aliens, transfer them within the United States, or remove them from the country.”
The decision applies to any Venezuelan who is 14 years old or older, who resides or is detained in the Southern District of Texas, and is subject to Proclamation 1093.
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- District Court TRO Blocks Deportations of Alleged Venezuelan Gang Members under AEA (J.A.V. et al. v. Trump et al., 4/9/25)