A federal judge has placed a temporary injunction on the Trump administration, preventing the use of a little-known law from 1798, which is mainly intended for wartime scenarios, to deport five Venezuelan nationals from the United States.
District Judge James Boasberg issued an immediate stay in response to a lawsuit from two civil liberties organizations, directing that any planes already in flight return, as the government was reportedly transporting migrants it deemed newly deportable to be detained in El Salvador and Honduras.
Just an hour prior, Donald Trump referenced the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798, alleging that Venezuelan members of the Tren de Aragua gang had “illegally infiltrated the United States and are engaging in irregular warfare and hostile actions against the nation.”
Alien Enemies Act used only three times in history, including during two world wars
In their lawsuit against the Alien Enemies Act, the ACLU and Democracy Forward contended that this act has been invoked only three times in U.S. history: during the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II.
“This cannot be applied against nationals of a nation – Venezuela – which the United States is not at war with, which is not invading the country, and which has not conducted any predatory incursions,” the lawsuit asserted.
“The government’s announcement would permit agents to place noncitizens on planes without any oversight regarding their classification as alien enemies,” the lawsuit further claimed.
The president had previously instructed his administration to classify the Tren De Aragua gang from Venezuela as a foreign terrorist organization.
With Trump portraying the Tren de Aragua gang as an invading foreign entity, civil liberties groups like the ACLU expressed concerns that Trump might exploit the act “illegally during peacetime to speed up mass deportations, bypassing the limitations of wartime authority and the protections embedded in immigration law.”
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Trump orders airstrikes on Yemen
Donald Trump authorized airstrikes in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, on Saturday, shortly after Iranian-backed Houthi rebels announced they would renew attacks on Israeli vessels in Yemeni waters in retaliation for Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
The U.S. president vowed to employ “overwhelming lethal force” until the Houthis abandon their assaults on shipping within this crucial maritime route.
According to the Houthi-run health ministry, at least 13 civilians lost their lives, and nine were injured during the U.S. strikes on Sana’a on Saturday evening.
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Trump order to end DEI support is allowed to proceed on appeal
The Trump administration has achieved a legal victory in its efforts to terminate government backing for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, as an appeals court lifted a previous block on executive orders aimed at rolling back DEI support.
Two judges from the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals noted that Trump’s anti-DEI initiatives could raise First Amendment concerns but claimed that the initial judge’s broad block was excessive.
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Voice of America employees put on administrative leave
On Saturday, government-employed journalists at Voice of America (VoA) were placed on administrative leave, one day after Trump signed an order dissolving the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), VoA’s parent organization, along with six other federal agencies.
An internal memo obtained by The Hill indicated that reporters at VoA had been assigned “administrative leave with full pay and benefits until further notice,” clarifying that this action was “not being taken for disciplinary reasons.”
This development follows VoA’s parent organization moving to terminate contracts with the Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse, instructing its journalists on Friday not to utilize material from these wire services.
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Analysis: can Trump push Putin into peace?
Vladimir Putin has indicated his willingness to consider a ceasefire in Ukraine, albeit with certain “nuances.” However, these nuances significantly complicate the situation, and following a week of intense diplomacy regarding Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, a ceasefire – let alone a lasting peace – seems increasingly distant.
While Trump has shown readiness to exert pressure on Volodymyr Zelenskyy, his capability or willingness to extract concessions from Putin remains ambiguous. The pivotal question will be whether Trump is prepared to truly confront Moscow when the nature of Putin’s “nuances” becomes apparent.
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Tesla bears brunt of people’s ire against Musk
As public protests against Elon Musk’s influence during Trump’s administration have surged, incidents of vandalism targeting Tesla’s physical locations and individual vehicles have also increased.
The Guardian has reported on at least three separate occurrences involving Molotov cocktails, widespread theft of nearly 50 Tesla tires, and graffiti featuring swastikas on Tesla premises from New York to New Mexico. Nearly 20 Tesla showrooms and charging stations have experienced deliberate arson, while numerous car owners have reported their vehicles being egged, defecated on, and targeted with Kraft cheese singles.
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Pete Hegseth pushes his beliefs on Pentagon
The Department of Defense is rapidly reshaping itself in the image of Trump’s secretary, Pete Hegseth, with many of the views and attitudes prevalent during Hegseth’s tenure at Fox News manifesting in actual policy changes.
“What are we witnessing in the Pentagon right now? What discussions are taking place regarding the future of warfare? What transformations are deemed essential as we move beyond the last two decades of combat?” inquired retired Brigadier General Paul Eaton, a veteran of the Iraq war. “We’re hearing about a purge of DEI initiatives.”
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What else happened today:
At least 32 individuals have died as tornadoes struck various parts of the United States, destroying schools and overturning semi-trailers across several states, with more severe storms anticipated.
Travel restrictions are being contemplated for citizens from several nations as part of a forthcoming ban, according to knowledgeable sources and an internal memo reviewed by Reuters.
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