{"id":2453977,"date":"2025-06-30T17:53:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T21:53:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-appears-skeptical-of-challenge-to-trumps-alien-enemies-act-proclamation\/"},"modified":"2025-06-30T17:54:32","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T21:54:32","slug":"appeals-court-appears-skeptical-of-challenge-to-trumps-alien-enemies-act-proclamation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-appears-skeptical-of-challenge-to-trumps-alien-enemies-act-proclamation\/","title":{"rendered":"Appeals court appears skeptical of challenge to Trump\u2019s Alien Enemies Act proclamation"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fappeals-court-appears-skeptical-of-challenge-to-trumps-alien-enemies-act-proclamation%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2453977&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A federal appeals court expressed skepticism regarding a challenge to President Trump&#8217;s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act during a hearing in New Orleans. The case, presented by attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) representing Venezuelan nationals, questions the legality of trump&#8217;s use of the act to expedite the deportation of members from the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which Trump declared as an invasion.Judges on the panel included appointees from both Republican and Democratic administrations. the ACLU argued that the president&#8217;s interpretation of a &#8220;predatory incursion&#8221; under the act is overly broad, leading to meaningful questioning from the judges. Meanwhile, lawyers for the Justice Department defended Trump&#8217;s proclamation as lawful, citing the gang&#8217;s designation as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawmakers-consider-enacting-statute-to-increase-punishments-for-domestic-terrorism\/\" title=\"Lawmakers consider enacting statute to increase punishments for domestic terrorism\">foreign terrorist organization<\/a>. The judges did not provide a specific timeline for their ruling, but whichever side is dissatisfied with the decision is highly likely to appeal to the Supreme Court.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Appeals court appears skeptical of challenge to Trump&rsquo;s Alien Enemies Act proclamation<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2162226\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A federal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/appeals-courts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"appeals court\">appeals court<\/a> appeared skeptical on Monday of lawyers challenging President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Donald Trump\">Donald Trump<\/a>&lsquo;s use of the Alien Enemies Act, as his reliance on the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >18th-century law appears increasingly poised<\/a> to reach the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n<p>During a hearing in a New Orleans courtroom, the judges appeared more skeptical of attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union who questioned the lawfulness of Trump invoking the Alien Enemies Act. The panel hearing arguments Monday included Judges Leslie Southwick, an appointee of former President George W. Bush; Andrew Oldham, a Trump appointee; and Irma Ramirez, an appointee of former President Joe Biden.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3458721\/trump-iowa-lawsuit-ann-selzer-des-moines-register-dropped\/\">Trump drops lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and Ann Selzer over 2024 poll<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3458324\/anti-israel-boulder-attack-charges-first-degree-murder\/\">Anti-Israel Boulder attack suspect charged with first-degree murder after victim dies from injuries<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3458294\/doj-sues-los-angeles-over-sanctuary-laws\/\">DOJ sues Los Angeles over &#8216;sanctuary&#8217; laws that block immigration enforcement<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Trump issued an order in March invoking the&nbsp;Alien Enemies&nbsp;Act to speed up deportations of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. He declared an invasion by the gang, as the legislation requires a &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-declares-invasion-by-tren-de-aragua-orders-deportation-of-illegal-gang-members-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Trump declares invasion by ..., orders deportation of illegal gang members - Washington Examiner\">predatory incursion&#038;rdquo<\/a>; in order to be invoked. Trump has faced various legal challenges to that order, including the challenge by a group of Venezuelan nationals backed by the ACLU before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit this week.<\/p>\n<p>Lee Gelernt, an ACLU attorney for the Venezuelan nationals, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/huckabee-on-bidens-lack-of-leadership-in-crisis-presidents-go-to-the-point-where-people-are-hurting\/\" title=\"Huckabee criticizes Biden&#039;s leadership: Presidents should address people&#039;s pain.\">faced numerous questions<\/a> from the judges early in the hearing over claims that the Alien Enemies Act could not apply to Tren de Aragua under the circumstances Trump declared in his proclamation.<\/p>\n<p>Gelernt argued that the government &ldquo;is trying to have it both ways,&rdquo; by broadening the definition of a &ldquo;predatory incursion&rdquo; while &ldquo;not saying we&rsquo;re in armed conflict with Venezuela.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Oldham questioned whether the Supreme Court has ever ruled that a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/federal-court-is-fast-tracking-sidney-powells-request-for-a-forensic-exam-of-dominion-voting-machines\/\" title=\"Federal ... Is Fast-Tracking Sidney Powell\u2019s Request For A Forensic Exam Of Dominion Voting Machines\">federal court<\/a> may &ldquo;countermand the president of the United States in his determination that we&rsquo;re in an armed conflict.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Gelernt acknowledged there was no such precedent but argued that the courts could review whether the president followed the law in invoking the AEA.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think we&rsquo;re not countermanding the president. You&rsquo;re simply interpreting the statute and then saying the proclamation on its face, if you couldn&rsquo;t, in your words, countermand the president, there&rsquo;d be no reason to even interpret the statute,&rdquo; Gelernt said, pushing back on Oldham&rsquo;s framing of his argument.<\/p>\n<p>Drew Ensign, a lawyer for the Justice Department, defended Trump&rsquo;s Alien Enemies Act proclamation as &ldquo;plainly a lawful exercise of his extensive powers&rdquo; and said the Department of Homeland Security had begun giving migrants more notice of DHS&rsquo;s intention to deport them, following due process requirements. Ensign faced fewer questions from the judges than Gelernt did, but was pressed on timing and the ability of affected Venezuelan nationals to file habeas corpus petitions.<\/p>\n<p>When asked by Southwick, Ensign said the DOJ &ldquo;largely&rdquo; endorses <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3409872\/first-federal-judge-approves-trump-alien-enemies-act\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"a federal district judge in Pennsylvania's determination\">a federal district judge in Pennsylvania&rsquo;s determination<\/a> that Trump&rsquo;s Alien Enemies Act proclamation was &ldquo;sufficient.&rdquo; Southwick questioned Ensign about whether the determination by Trump that Tren de Aragua&rsquo;s presence necessitated the use of the Alien Enemies Act was too wide-ranging, but the DOJ lawyer pushed back, noting Tren de Aragua is designated as a foreign terrorist organization.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That is a characteristic that is quite rare, and is one that reflects the particular dangerousness that TDA poses, including, again, they&rsquo;re in more than 40 states in the United States, that is not common. They&rsquo;ve taken over entire apartment buildings where they&rsquo;ve acted as a law to themselves,&rdquo; Ensign said.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3456163\/supreme-court-death-knell-universal-injunctions-changes-trump-legal-landscape\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"SUPREME COURT&rsquo;S DEATH KNELL TO UNIVERSAL INJUNCTIONS CHANGES TRUMP LEGAL LANDSCAPE\">SUPREME COURT&rsquo;S DEATH KNELL TO UNIVERSAL INJUNCTIONS CHANGES TRUMP LEGAL LANDSCAPE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;These are very unique factors that help TDA radically squeeze within the definition that Western District of Pennsylvania has provided, but are not broadly shared,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\n<p>The panel of appellate judges did not offer a timeline to rule on Trump&rsquo;s use of the Alien Enemies Act, but the outcome will likely be appealed to the Supreme Court by whichever side the court rules against.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2162226\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2162226\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Appeals court shows doubt on challenge to Trump&#8217;s Alien Enemies Act<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2453978,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/deportations-file-photo-may-2025.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[43851,32324,3634],"class_list":["post-2453977","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-alien-enemies-act","tag-appeals-court","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/deportations-file-photo-may-2025.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2453977","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2453977"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2453977\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2453981,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2453977\/revisions\/2453981"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2453978"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2453977"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2453977"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2453977"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}