A federal judge in Texas has extended a restraining order that prevents the deportation of Venezuelans under the Alien Enemies Act. This decision came after ACLU attorneys intervened to protect individuals facing removal. The order now covers all Venezuelans detained in the Southern District of Texas, as issues surrounding the legality of the Act and national security claims come to the forefront.

A federal judge in South Texas has extended a temporary restraining order that prevents the Trump Administration from utilizing the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans detained in the Southern District of Texas. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez made this ruling at the request of attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who represent three Venezuelans facing deportation. The restraining order was originally issued on Wednesday, halting their removal.

During a hearing, Judge Rodriguez expanded the restraining order to cover other Venezuelans detained in both federal and state facilities within the Southern District of Texas, which encompasses areas such as the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Corpus Christi, Houston, and Galveston. The judge mandated that the Trump Administration disclose the number of Venezuelans potentially facing deportation by the next hearing on April 24.

The three Venezuelans were set for deportation following a Supreme Court ruling that allowed the deportations to resume under the Alien Enemies Act. However, the Court ruled that immigrants affected by this act are entitled to contest their deportation in court with adequate notice. The administration’s attorney indicated they were still reviewing the implications of the court’s order regarding notification.

The detained individuals, initially held in Pennsylvania, California, and New York, were subsequently transferred to the El Valle Detention Center in Raymondville, Texas. Following the ACLU’s intervention and an emergency lawsuit, Judge Rodriguez halted their removals, questioning the legality of invoking the Alien Enemies Act for such deportations.

Despite the Act’s historical context, as it was last utilized during World War II, the Trump Administration recently invoked it under claims of national security risks from the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which it has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. The attorneys for the detained Venezuelans refute the government’s claims linking their clients with this organization.

This report acknowledges support from the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., and originally appeared in The Texas Tribune.

In summary, a federal judge has successfully halted the deportation of Venezuelans detained in Texas under the Alien Enemies Act, thereby extending the temporary restraining order to cover more individuals at risk. This ruling highlights the legal complexities surrounding deportations based on national security claims, particularly regarding the government’s assertions of threat from a Venezuelan gang. The case raises crucial questions about the applicability and legality of utilizing historical wartime legislation in current immigration contexts.

Original Source: www.caller.com

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