Ordered to Return Aircraft Carrying Deportees to the United States
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a deportation order applying the "Alien Enemies Act" for the first time since World War II, but a federal court intervened within hours.
On the 15th (local time), James Boasberg, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, ordered the government to temporarily suspend the deportation order.
He explained that this was to allow time to review a "class action lawsuit and habeas corpus petition" filed by five Venezuelan nationals who had been detained in a detention facility, claiming that the deportation order issued by President Trump was invalid.
Furthermore, he ordered, "If the planes carrying them are about to take off or are already in flight, they must be brought back to the United States by any means necessary," and instructed, "Take immediate action to ensure compliance with this court order."
Politico reported that when Judge Boasberg held a hearing via video to review the petition that day, two aircraft carrying the individuals had already taken off from an airport in Harlingen, Texas. At the time the deportation order suspension was issued, the planes were already close to their destinations.
He expressed serious legal concerns about President Trump’s justification for the deportation order, which regarded criminal organizations operating in Venezuela and other countries as equivalent to foreign governments.
The temporary suspension of the deportation order will last for 14 days, during which time a judgment on the issues will be made.
He is expected to review legal issues such as the applicability of the "Alien Enemies Act," which was cited as the legal basis for the deportation order.
Enacted in 1798, this law allows the U.S. government during wartime to arrest, detain, and deport non-citizens without the usual peacetime procedures such as warrants or trials.
Since its enactment 227 years ago, the U.S. government has applied this law to detain and deport foreigners only three times, and there have been no cases since the end of World War II.
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