President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement policy has run into a major legal roadblock after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked further deportations under a centuries-old statute last invoked during World War II.
In a highly controversial move earlier this year, Trump revived the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
An archaic piece of U.S. immigration law originally passed during rising tensions with France — to deport over 200 individuals allegedly tied to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
But on Friday, May 16, the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 to uphold a temporary legal injunction halting further removals under the act, calling the administration’s process constitutionally inadequate.
Trump Invokes Wartime Law for Deportation
The Alien Enemies Act, one of the few remaining pillars of the Alien and Sedition Acts, allows the president to detain or expel nationals from hostile nations — but only in cases of a declared war or active threat to national security.
Historically, it’s been used just three times: during the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II.
