On Monday, March 24, 2025, Fox News reported that a U.S. appeals court judge criticized the treatment of Venezuelan nationals deported by the Trump administration, stating that they received less consideration than Nazis during a recent hearing. Judge Patricia Millett made this remark while the D.C. Circuit Court heard arguments regarding the administration’s emergency appeal related to the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
The Trump administration sought to utilize this law to deport certain foreign nationals, including alleged members of the violent Tren de Aragua gang, from the U.S. to El Salvador. Last weekend, at least 261 migrants were deported, with over 100 of them being Venezuelan nationals. Millett questioned Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign about the lack of procedures in place to notify those being deported.
During the hearing, Millett highlighted that individuals deported under the law had no opportunity to challenge their deportation or seek legal relief, contrasting this with the treatment of Nazis under the same law, who were afforded hearings before removal. Ensign, representing the government, did not confirm whether the deportees had time to appeal their status and noted disagreement with Millett’s comparison.
The Alien Enemies Act, enacted in 1798, has been utilized infrequently throughout U.S. history, with its most recent application occurring during World War II. The appeals court has not yet announced when it plans to issue its ruling on the matter.
Source: Fox News
