• A federal judge ruled against President Trump's use of the Alien Enemies Act for deporting Venezuelans.
• Judge Fernando Rodriguez stated Trump's interpretation of the law exceeds statutory boundaries.
• This ruling is the first permanent injunction against such deportations in South Texas.
• Trump's usage of the law is deemed unlawful as it does not meet "invasion" criteria.
• The decision marks a significant legal victory for immigrant rights advocates, including the ACLU.

A federal judge in Texas has issued a landmark ruling permanently blocking the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) to deport Venezuelan migrants, asserting that the President’s invocation of the 18th-century wartime law was unlawful. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. emphasized that the law can only apply during times of war or in response to an actual invasion, which he concluded was not the case with the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, as claimed by Trump, according to Reuters and CBS News.

In a detailed 36-page ruling, Judge Rodriguez criticized the administration's interpretation of the AEA, asserting that allowing such broad powers would grant the executive branch nearly limitless authority and undermine the judiciary's role. He remarked, "The President’s invocation through the Proclamation exceeds the scope of the statute and is contrary to the plain, ordinary meaning of the statute’s terms," as stated in HuffPost and BBC.

Judge Rodriguez's ruling applies to all Venezuelans in the Southern District of Texas, barring the use of the AEA for deportations and requiring that individuals are afforded due process, a point previously emphasized by the Supreme Court. As articulated by Rodriguez, "the law does not support such a position," reinforcing the view that due process rights must be upheld as described by ABC News, Bloomberg, and HuffPost.

The ruling is celebrated by immigration advocates, particularly the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has vehemently opposed the Trump administration's use of the AEA. Lee Gelernt, an ACLU attorney, emphasized that the decision prevents the unilateral declaration of an invasion by the President, allowing for greater judicial oversight over immigration matters. This aligns with sentiments expressed by The Hill, New York Times, and Los Angeles Times.

Rodriguez's ruling also raises concerns regarding the Trump administration's potential defiance of court decisions, as it prepares to appeal the ruling to the conservative-leaning 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. The case presents an ongoing legal battle that could eventually escalate to the Supreme Court, highlighting the contentious nature of immigration policy under Trump’s presidency, according to South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, and Forbes.