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\n\tThe American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) alongside partner organizations, launched a legal challenge on Tuesday aimed at preventing President Donald Trump from exploiting the Alien Enemies Act\u2014a law from the 18th century typically used only during wartime\u2014to deport individuals to a notorious prison in El Salvador known for severe human rights violations.\n<\/p>\n
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\n\tThe ACLU, together with the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Legal Aid Society (representing affected clients), filed an urgent lawsuit in a federal court in New York. Their goal is to suspend deportations under the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) within the jurisdiction of that court.\n<\/p>\n
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\n\tNaming Trump, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, among other officials, as defendants, the lawsuit comes after a narrow 5-4 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday. This decision overturned a lower court’s ruling that had previously blocked the deportation of Venezuelan nationals to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador.\n<\/p>\n
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URGENT: The NYCLU and @aclu.org have initiated an emergency lawsuit to prevent the Trump administration from deporting individuals under the Alien Enemies Act without proper legal processes.<\/p>\n
The thought of indefinite detention without a fair trial in a foreign land is unacceptable. \u2014 NYCLU (@nyclu.org) April 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\tThough the Supreme Court’s ruling allows the Trump administration to proceed with deportations under the 1798 AEA, it emphasized that those facing removal must receive due process rights.\n<\/p>\n
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\n\tIn their lawsuit, the ACLU contends, “The AEA is traditionally a wartime measure, clearly intended for hostile engagements,” arguing it should not be applied to citizens of Venezuela\u2014a nation not at war with, invading, or threatening the U.S.\n<\/p>\n
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\n\tBeyond deporting foreign nationals to CECOT, Trump has also hinted at the possibility of sending American citizens to the same facility at the behest of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, a right-wing leader expected to visit the White House soon.\n<\/p>\n
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\n\tThis is occurring amidst broad reports of severe human rights abuses both within the mentioned facility and across El Salvador generally.<\/p>\n\n\n