A split three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a March 15 order temporarily prohibiting deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
Invoking the law for the first time since World War II, President Donald Trump’s administration deported hundreds of people to El Salvador under a presidential proclamation calling the Tren de Aragua an invading force.
The Justice Department appealed after a U.S. District Judge appointed by Barack Obama, James Boasberg, blocked more deportations and ordered planeloads of Venezuelan immigrants to return to the U.S. That did not happen.
Trump officials say the planes were already outside of U.S. airspace when the judge issued his order.
