Legal Action: ACLU Seeks Release of Three Venezuelans Through Habeas Corpus
Federal Judge Blocks Deportation of Venezuelans
A federal judge from the U.S. District Court has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking the Trump Administration from deporting certain Venezuelan nationals. The ruling by the U.S. District Court came in response to a class-action lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
The lawsuit challenges the government’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, an archaic statute from the 19th century that allows the president to remove foreign nationals during times of war. The ACLU argued that the administration’s application of this law is overly broad, violates modern due process rights, and ignores international human rights. Specifically, the Venezuelan plaintiffs claimed they were being deported based on unsubstantiated gang allegations without proper notice or an opportunity to contest them at the U.S. District Court.
Judge Rodriguez’s order temporarily halts these removals while the court evaluates the case’s merits at the U.S. District Court level. This decision highlights the judiciary’s vital role as a check on executive power in immigration matters. The case raises major constitutional questions about whether a 200-year-old law is compatible with modern legal standards and could set an important precedent for future cases involving executive authority in immigration enforcement.
