Trump's use of Alien Enemies Act is unlawful, judge rules

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By Caitlin Tremblay

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A Venezuelan migrant looks on following his arrival on a flight after being deported from the United States, in Caracas, Venezuela, March 24, 2025. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File photo 

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez in Brownsville, Texas, blocked the Trump administration from using an 18th-century wartime law to deport some Venezuelan migrants, in the most sweeping ruling thus far against a key part of the president's aggressive immigration crackdown. Read more.

In a 36-page opinion Rodriguez ruled that the Trump administration exceeded the scope of the Alien Enemies Act by using it to speed up the deportations of alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The judge's permanent injunction against the use of the law applies to migrants detained in the Southern District of Texas.

Read the opinion.

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

A federal judge's contempt ruling against Apple has created a major new legal headache for the iPhone maker, and also requires it to write a check to its adversary in the case: "Fortnite" maker Epic Games. Apple said it would appeal the ruling.

As a sanction, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers also said Apple must pay legal fees to Epic's legal team, led by Cravath, Swaine & Moore, for the many months the lawyers spent fighting Apple for information about its compliance with the earlier injunction. Epic's team at Cravath was led by partners Gary Bornstein, Yonatan Even, Lauren Moskowitz and Michael Zaken. Mike Scarcella has more.

And read more about what's next for Apple.

Billable Hours is Reuters' weekly report on lawyers and money. Please send tips or suggestions to D.Thomas@thomsonreuters.com.

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caitlin.tremblay@thomsonreuters.com

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