Federal judge blocks new deportations under Alien Enemies Act

A federal judge issued a new blockade Friday preventing President Trump from deporting Venezuelan gang suspects who are being held in southern Texas.

Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. said he needs time to evaluate the administration’s claims about its powers under the Alien Enemies Act. He issued a temporary restraining order blocking the deportations.

The Supreme Court earlier this week ruled that Mr. Trump must give deportation targets under the AEA a chance to mount a challenge to the removal in federal courts.

Judge Rodriguez said he is trying to carry that out.

His ruling is the latest twist and what has become a major showdown between Mr. Trump and federal judges over his deportation powers.

The president’s team last month sent three planeloads of migrants to a prison in El Salvador. Most of those deportees are Venezuelans whom he accuses of being members of Tren de Aragua, a gang now designated a terrorist organization.

Immigration groups challenged the removals, saying the president is overstepping his powers and the people he is targeting, in many cases, are not actually members of the gang.

The Supreme Court had shot down immigration groups’ lawsuit filed in Washington, saying challenges must be mounted in the location where people are being held.