The administration had moved to vacate the temporary restraining orders.
A federal judge in Washington has denied the Trump administration’s request to remove two orders blocking the administration’s ability to deport members of a Venezuelan gang under the Alien Enemies Act.
In an opinion on March 24, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said he had jurisdiction to adjudicate the issue and that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in their argument that they are entitled to an individualized hearing to determine whether the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 applies to them.
Boasberg also said the plaintiffs who challenged the Trump administration’s action couldn’t be deported until a court had ruled on the merits of their challenge. He noted that they disputed that they were, in fact, members of the Tren de Aragua terrorist group.
This is a developing news story that will be updated.
By Sam Dorman
