Federal Judge Blocks Deportations of Venezuelan Immigrants Under Wartime Law
El Paso, TX — A federal judge has temporarily halted the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants, citing the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act. U.S. District Judge David Briones issued this ruling on Friday while ordering the release of a couple accused of ties to a Venezuelan criminal gang. He stated that the government had failed to provide a lawful basis for their detention.
The couple, Julio Cesar Sanchez Puentes and Luddis Norelia Sanchez Garcia, is alleged to be affiliated with Tren de Aragua, a group designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. Trump had invoked the Alien Enemies Act, which allows the deportation of noncitizens over 14 years old from nations with which the U.S. is at war.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court similarly blocked Venezuelan deportations in northern Texas, mandating that those facing removal receive a proper court hearing and time to contest their cases. Judge Briones’ ruling specifically affects Venezuelan immigrants in federal custody in his jurisdiction and adds that authorities must provide a 21-day notice before attempting to remove anyone, contrasting the government’s position of just 12 hours.
Briones pointed to established due process requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act and previous Supreme Court rulings. He expressed concerns about the chaos and uncertainty caused by the unprecedented use of wartime powers during peacetime.
The couple, who entered the U.S. from Mexico in October 2022 and were granted temporary protected status, were arrested while attempting to return to Washington, D.C. after a pretrial hearing related to their removal proceedings.
As legal challenges continue, this ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing clash over the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
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