A U.S. appeals court judge has rejected the Trump administration’s request to proceed with the deportation of Venezuelan migrants accused of gang affiliations, citing concerns over due process violations. The ruling came after human rights groups and legal experts challenged the administration’s use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a rarely invoked law historically applied during wartime to detain or expel individuals from enemy nations.

Judge Patricia Millett, who issued the ruling, emphasized that even during World War II, suspected Nazis were granted more legal rights before deportation than the Venezuelan migrants facing removal today. The court’s decision temporarily halts the deportations while legal proceedings continue.

The administration had defended its actions by claiming that the targeted migrants posed security threats due to their alleged gang affiliations. However, family members and advocacy groups argue that many individuals were wrongfully labeled as gang members based on factors such as tattoos or vague associations, rather than concrete evidence.

This ruling marks a significant legal setback for the Trump administration’s broader immigration policies and highlights the continued legal battles over migrant rights and deportation procedures in the United States.