On Tuesday, a federal judge in Colorado put a stop to the Trump administration’s attempt to deport immigrants using a centuries-old wartime law, saying it simply doesn’t apply.
This ruling is the latest legal challenge against former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies under the Alien Enemies Act (AEA), a law from the 1700s that was designed for times of actual war.
U.S. District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney said Trump’s deportation order, issued on March 15, does not meet the legal requirements of the AEA. She clearly stated that the United States is not at war with Venezuela or any foreign power connected to the people targeted for deportation.
In her ruling, Judge Sweeney explained that the AEA can only be used when there is a real war, an invasion, or a military attack by a foreign country. Since there is no war or invasion right now, the law cannot be used in this case.
The judge also pointed out that terms like “invasion” and “predatory incursion” used in Trump’s order have very specific meanings. They refer to military actions, not to illegal immigration or gang-related crimes, which the proclamation tried to label as threats. So, Trump’s use of the law is not only factually incorrect but legally flawed.
This decision builds on a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said people targeted under the AEA must be given a chance to fight their case through the courts.
That decision made it clear that due process — a person’s right to fair treatment under the law — cannot be skipped, even in these cases.
During a hearing on Monday, the judge raised concerns about how the government was treating immigrants at an ICE detention center in Aurora, Colorado.
She said the administration’s process didn’t give people enough time or notice to defend themselves. Although the government said they would give 24 hours’ notice before any deportation, the court found this was not enough.
The petitioners, backed by legal groups like the ACLU and the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, argued for a minimum of 30 days’ notice.
The court didn’t give them the full 30 days, but it did require a 21-day notice — a big win for immigrant rights groups.
Judge Sweeney didn’t stop there.
She made her ruling apply to all future cases involving the AEA at the Colorado facility, not just the current petitioners. She said that no one in this group could be moved out of Colorado until further legal steps are taken.
The judge also mentioned another case where the U.S. Supreme Court had recently blocked deportation flights under the same law. That ruling happened in Texas and was unusual because the Supreme Court issued it on a Saturday, showing how seriously they considered the matter.
Judge Sweeney used that example to support her decision and said that whether or not someone is currently detained doesn’t matter when it comes to the right to challenge deportation. She emphasized that this right remains valid regardless of the person’s detention status.
In simple terms, the court is saying: just because someone may be labeled as a threat under an old wartime law doesn’t mean they lose their rights. They must still be treated fairly, given proper notice, and allowed to fight their case in court.
This ruling is another big obstacle for Trump’s immigration agenda, which has already faced many legal setbacks. It highlights the growing tension between using outdated laws for modern immigration enforcement and respecting constitutional rights.
For now, the court has extended the block on deportations from Colorado under this law until at least May 6. Unless the Supreme Court steps in again or Congress makes new laws, Trump’s strategy to use the Alien Enemies Act for mass deportations seems to be on very shaky ground.
The case remains open, and more legal battles are expected as both sides prepare for the next round. But what’s clear is this: courts are not willing to let even presidents bypass due process, no matter what law they try to use.