LatinoJustice Applauds Ruling Restricting Alien Enemies Act Against Some Venezuelan Nationals
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2025
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LatinoJustice Applauds Ruling Restricting Alien Enemies Act Against Some Venezuelan Nationals
New York, NY – On May 1, 2025, a federal district court in Texas issued a ruling in J.A.V. v. Trump, addressing the use of the Alien Enemies Act by the administration. The court found that the statute could not be applied to certain Venezuelan gang members, determining that their actions did not constitute an invasion or an attack by a military or organized armed force as contemplated by the Act.
The judge rejected the government’s argument that the President could invoke the law in response to criminal activity by non-state actors, stating that such circumstances did not meet the criteria under the statute.
The following statement can be attributed to Rex Chen, Supervising Counsel for Immigrant Rights, LatinoJustice PRLDEF: “We appreciates that the federal courts are making sensible rulings to limit the Alien Enemies Act to groups actually invading the United States, as Congress intended in 1798. We are very concerned that ICE’s illegal use of the Alien Enemies Act violates the rights of many Latinos and creates fear and uncertainty for many communities, including mixed-status families. LatinoJustice PRLDEF will continue to fight for the rights and dignity of all immigrants and to hold the government accountable to the rule of law.”
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About LatinoJustice
LatinoJustice PRLDEF works to create a more just society by using and challenging the rule of law to secure transformative, equitable and accessible justice, by empowering our community and by fostering leadership through advocacy and education. For over 50 years, LatinoJustice PRLDEF has acted as an advocate against injustices throughout the country. To learn more about LatinoJustice, visit www.LatinoJustice.org