Are these judges really being fair to Trump? Doesn’t seem so.
In a major twist to President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration agenda, a federal judge in Texas has ruled that the president cannot use a centuries-old wartime law to fast-track deportations of suspected Venezuelan gang members flooding across the southern border.
The ruling—issued Thursday by U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., a Trump appointee—temporarily halts Trump’s efforts to deport over 100 men tied to the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, citing limits on presidential powers under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act.
⚠️ National Security Threat Ignored?
The gang, known for violent crimes in Latin America, has been linked to drug trafficking, kidnappings, and murder across U.S. cities—yet the court ruled their deportation under a national security provision doesn’t apply.
The judge claimed the law can only be triggered by an actual “invasion” from an armed foreign force, and concluded that the president’s action “exceeds the scope of the statute and is unlawful.”
Trump’s America-First Border Plan Hits Judicial Roadblock
Trump’s executive order cited the urgent need to protect American families, especially as Venezuelan nationals—many with violent criminal records and gang affiliations—continue to cross the U.S. border.
But liberal legal groups like the ACLU quickly filed lawsuits, claiming the deportations lacked due process. On Thursday, they got their win—at least for now.
Rodriguez’s ruling also granted class action status, making it easier for every migrant in this group to challenge deportation in court, potentially dragging the case out for months or longer.
Constitutional Crisis? President vs. the Courts
The decision raises serious concerns about the balance of power. Rodriguez argued that allowing the president to define what constitutes an “invasion” would give the executive too much unchecked authority.
🧠 Did You Know?
The Alien Enemies Act has only been used three times in U.S. history—during the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II—when Japanese Americans were interned under its authority.
Now, the Supreme Court may step in, as the administration pushes for a nationwide ruling to lift lower court blocks and reinstate the use of the law in full.
Bottom Line
This decision is a significant victory for the far-left legal establishment, but a potential delay—not defeat—for Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Conservatives warn that activist judges are tying the president’s hands, even as violent foreign gangs exploit America’s broken border system. The fight is far from over—and the stakes couldn’t be higher.