Federal District Court Rules Against Trump in Alien Enemies Act Case

Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the federal District Court for the District of Colorado issued an important ruling against the Trump Administration .

She also blocked deportation and transfer of Venezuelan migrant plaintiffs detained in her district.

Judge Sweeney ruled (correctly) that none of these preconditions have been met.

The Act's "text and history" use these terms "to refer to military actions indicative of an actual or impending war".

Judge Sweeney 's analysis of the meaning of "invasion" and "predatory incursion" largely tracks that of Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson of the DC Circuit , in her opinion.

Judge Sweeney rightly concludes TdA 's actions qualify as those of a "foreign nation or government" Her conclusion is further bolstered by US intelligence assessments indicating that Venezuela not acting at the behest of the Venezuelan government.