Federal Judge Blocks Trump's Attempt to Deport Venezuelans Through 18th Century Wartime Act

President Donald Trump's attempt to use a law passed in 1798 to target Venezuelan immigrants for deportation has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge.

Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 in an attempt to target suspected members of the notorious gang Tren de Aragua, NBC News reported. Trump asserted that the individuals were "unlawfully infiltrating" the U.S.

Chief Judge of the D.C. District Court James E. Boasberg first issued a restraining order focusing on five Venezuelans named in a lawsuit challenging Trump's invocation of the 18th-century law. However, NBC News reported that Boasberg later expanded his ruling to apply to all non-citizens subject to Trump's invocation of it.

The order provides time for legal arguments concerning the law to be considered before any deportations begin. Essentially, Trump is asserting that the U.S. is being invaded by the street gang, the Associated Press reported.

The law was initially passed in 1798 in anticipation of a war with France, and it was meant to broaden presidential powers to allow the deportation and imprisonment of non-citizens. The AP reported that since its initial passage, it has been invoked during the War of 1812, World War I and World War II.

The act was used during World War II to justify internment camps of individuals primarily of Japanese descent. The AP reported that it is estimated that 120,000 individuals were detained under the provision in World War II, including American citizens of Japanese heritage.