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• A federal court temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting certain immigrants using the Alien Enemies Act, but the administration proceeded with deportations.
• Hundreds of migrants were deported to El Salvador despite the court order.
• The ACLU and other groups are challenging the use of the Alien Enemies Act, citing its unprecedented and potentially unlawful invocation.

Quick Brief

2-Minute Digest

Essential Context

On March 15, 2025, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order to halt the President Trump’s administration’s plan to deport certain immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act, a law last used during World War II. Despite this order, the administration deported hundreds of migrants to El Salvador.

Core Players

• Donald Trump – President of the United States
• U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg – Issued the temporary restraining order
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – Filed the lawsuit challenging the deportations
• Nayib Bukele – President of El Salvador, agreed to house the deported migrants

Key Numbers

• 300+ – Migrants deported to El Salvador
• $6 million – Cost for El Salvador to house the migrants for a year
• 14 days – Duration of the temporary restraining order
• 3 – Number of times the Alien Enemies Act has been used in U.S. history

Full Depth

Complete Coverage

The Catalyst

The President Trump’s administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act, a law from 1798, to declare that members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua were invading the United States. This declaration gave the president extraordinary powers to detain or remove foreigners.

This move was part of a broader effort by the President Trump’s administration to tighten immigration policies and secure the border.

Inside Forces

The ACLU and Democracy Forward filed a lawsuit, *J.G.G. v. Trump*, challenging the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act. They argued that the act’s invocation was unlawful and unprecedented.

Despite the court’s temporary restraining order, the administration proceeded with the deportations, citing that the flights were already in the air at the time of the ruling.

Power Dynamics

The President Trump’s administration’s actions highlight a significant power struggle between the executive branch and the judiciary. The administration’s decision to ignore the court order raises questions about the limits of executive authority.

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s cooperation with the President Trump’s administration in housing the deported migrants also underscores the diplomatic and political dynamics at play.

Outside Impact

The deportations have broader implications for U.S. immigration policy and international relations. The use of the Alien Enemies Act has been criticized by various countries, including Venezuela, which characterized it as evocative of “the darkest episodes in human history.”

The move also affects the lives of hundreds of migrants, who were transferred to El Salvador and are now being held in prisons under strict conditions.

Future Forces

Upcoming hearings will determine the fate of the temporary restraining order and the broader legality of the President Trump’s administration’s actions. A remote hearing is scheduled for March 15, and an in-person hearing is set for March 17.

The outcome of these hearings will have significant implications for immigration policy and the balance of power between the executive and judicial branches.

Data Points

• March 15, 2025: Federal judge issues temporary restraining order
• March 15, 2025: President Trump’s administration deports migrants despite court order
• March 17, 2025: Scheduled in-person hearing on the lawsuit’s merits
• 1798: Year the Alien Enemies Act was enacted
• World War II: Last time the Alien Enemies Act was used to justify the detention of Japanese-American civilians