TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Julia Wilburn on May 13, 2025

A federal judge in Pennsylvania has ruled that President Donald Trump can invoke the Alien Enemies Act to deport members of Tren de Aragua, a group he labeled a foreign terrorist organization, but must provide proper notice before doing so. The Hill reports that the decision from Judge Stephanie Haines diverges from other rulings — including from a Texas-based federal judge — that have found the law may be used only during formal invasions or wartime. The ACLU is urging the Supreme Court to intervene and resolve the conflict. Haines lifted a previous block on deportations in Western Pennsylvania, allowing the administration to proceed with a 21-day notice in both English and Spanish.