President Donald Trump invoked rarely used war powers in a bid to deport foreign nationals that the federal government deems to be members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
Trump’s proclamation — which was released by the White House Saturday afternoon but signed on Friday — relies on the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which is meant to quickly remove foreigners during wartime or invasion, and comes hours after a preemptive order from a federal judge barred five Venezuelan nationals from being deported immediately.
It’s the latest sweeping executive action from the White House designed to speed up Trump’s efforts to deport millions of undocumented immigrants from the country.
“I find and declare that TdA is perpetrating, attempting, and threatening an invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States,” Trump wrote in his declaration.
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