Federal Judge Issues Temporary Block on Deportations of Venezuelan Immigrants in Texas
A federal judge in West Texas has temporarily halted the deportations of Venezuelan immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act, a legal relic from the 18th century. U.S. District Judge David Briones issued the ruling following the case of a couple accused of being affiliated with the Venezuelan criminal gang, Tren de Aragua. Judge Briones stated that the government failed to demonstrate any lawful basis for their continued detention.
The couple, Julio Cesar Sanchez Puentes and Luddis Norelia Sanchez Garcia, were apprehended at El Paso airport while en route to their home in Washington, D.C. They had entered the U.S. from Mexico in October 2022 and were under temporary protected status, which was abruptly terminated on April 1. They were arrested shortly after arriving for a court hearing related to their removal proceedings.
The ruling aligns with decisions made by courts in south Texas, Colorado, and New York, which have also blocked deportations of Venezuelans under the wartime statute invoked by the Trump administration. This act allows for the deportation of noncitizens from nations at war with the U.S. Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that deportees under the act are entitled to federal court hearings.
Judge Briones emphasized that due process is essential for the removal of noncitizens, highlighting the chaos stemming from unprecedented peacetime applications of wartime powers. He mandated that federal authorities provide a 21-day notice before any removal attempts in west Texas, contrasting starkly with the government’s position of a mere 12-hour notice.
The ruling comes amid broader tensions between the Trump administration and local officials concerning strict immigration policies, underlining significant implications for Venezuelan immigrants facing deportation.
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