By Gloria Ogbonna
Attorney General Pam Bondi strongly criticized a federal judge’s decision to block the deportation of suspected members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) after President Donald Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to expedite their removal.
In a press release from the Department of Justice, Bondi condemned U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, accusing him of prioritizing the interests of a violent gang over the safety of American citizens.
“Tonight, a DC trial judge supported Tren de Aragua terrorists over the safety of Americans,” Bondi stated. “TdA is represented by the ACLU. This order disregards well-established authority regarding President Trump’s power, and it puts the public and law enforcement at risk.
The Department of Justice is undeterred in its efforts to work with the White House, the Department of Homeland Security, and all of our partners to stop this invasion and Make America Safe Again.”
Judge Boasberg issued an order halting the Trump administration’s deportation efforts, stating that any plane carrying suspected TdA members that was about to take off or already airborne must return to the United States.
According to Politico, the ruling will remain in place until the court determines whether Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act was unlawful.
The judge’s decision stems from a lawsuit filed on behalf of five Venezuelan immigrants who claim that Trump’s proclamation unfairly targets noncitizens without due process.
The lawsuit has been granted class-action status, meaning the ruling applies to all noncitizens in U.S. custody subject to Trump’s Alien Enemies Act proclamation.
The plaintiffs argue that the proclamation distorts the intent of the 1798 law by categorizing TdA’s criminal activities as an “invasion” or “predatory incursion” by a foreign entity.
The lawsuit also claims that branding a violent gang as equivalent to a foreign nation or government misinterprets the plain language of the law.
The Tren de Aragua gang has been designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the Trump administration, which describes it as having thousands of members who have unlawfully entered the United States and are engaging in criminal activities, irregular warfare, and hostile actions against the country.
President Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act—titled “Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of The United States by Tren De Aragua”—seeks to use the rarely invoked law to fast-track deportations of suspected gang members without extended judicial review.
The administration argues that TdA is not just a criminal organization but an organized threat to national security, justifying extraordinary measures to prevent further violence, human trafficking, and drug-related crimes.
The judge’s ruling sets the stage for a major legal battle over executive authority, immigration enforcement, and national security.
While the Department of Justice remains committed to enforcing Trump’s policy, the ACLU and other advocacy groups argue that the administration’s actions violate constitutional protections.
Bondi and other Trump administration officials have vowed to fight the ruling, insisting that allowing TdA members to remain in the U.S. puts law enforcement and communities at risk.
“This is not just an immigration issue,” Bondi warned. “This is about stopping violent criminals from terrorizing our communities. We will not back down.”
As legal proceedings unfold, the case could have far-reaching implications for immigration law, presidential authority, and national security policy in the United States.
Source Breitbart
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