President Donald Trump has invoked the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century law historically used during wartime, through a newly issued proclamation. Previously enacted three times, most recently to justify certain internments during World War II, the law is now being directed at Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. Trump claims its members have unlawfully entered the U.S., engaging in irregular warfare and hostile actions against the country.

Throughout his campaign, Trump frequently referenced the 1798 law, signaling its role in his broader mass deportation strategy. Unlike standard immigration proceedings, detentions and deportations under the Alien Enemies Act bypass the immigration court system, which typically allows individuals to seek relief and argue their case to remain in the U.S.

Experts have warned that the current backlog in immigration courts, where cases often take years to resolve, could present a major hurdle to Trump's mass deportation efforts.

However, the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act has already been met with legal opposition. A federal judge has temporarily halted deportations under the law, pending further judicial review.