Trump Deploys 1798 Law to Deport Alleged Venezuelan Gang Members

The Trump administration has controversially leveraged the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport over 200 Venezuelans allegedly linked to gang activity. Despite legal challenges and widespread criticism from human rights advocates, the White House insists the deportations are justified under the law, raising questions about the treatment of individuals based on national origins.

In a contentious move, the Trump administration recently deported more than 200 individuals from Venezuela who have been characterized as members of the Tren de Aragua gang. This action utilized the Alien Enemies Act, a law established in 1798, to classify these individuals as threats to US national security. According to reports, 137 of the deportees were taken back to El Salvador under this statute.

The Alien Enemies Act grants the sitting president the authority to detain and expel citizens of nations classified as "enemies" during times of declared war or threats such as "invasion" or "predatory incursions." This law, originally aimed at apprehending potential threats during a period of rising tensions with France, allows for considerable presidential discretion.

Critically, this marks the first invocation of the Alien Enemies Act by Trump, who referenced it in his inaugural address with promises of eliminating foreign gangs and crimes. In a proclamation, Trump pointed to the alleged actions of the Tren de Aragua gang as justification for his actions, stating that its members could be treated as "alien enemies."

The use of this law has sparked outrage among civil rights organizations, with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filing a lawsuit to halt the deportations, arguing that the US is not at war with Venezuela. A federal judge attempted to prevent these actions, but the administration disregarded the order, asserting it lacked a legal basis.

President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, reacted to the news of the deportations with a dismissive comment, while officials in Venezuela condemned the action as unjust and reminiscent of historical atrocities. Critics argue that Trump's application of the Alien Enemies Act serves to stigmatize individuals based on nationality rather than substantiated criminal behavior, with some legal experts labeling it as an illegal overreach of presidential power.