(Reuters) – A federal judge in Pennsylvania has ruled that the United States can use the Alien Enemies Act from 1798 to accelerate the deportation of accused Venezuelan gang members in the western district of the State, but must set them up for at least 21 days and the possibility of fighting their relocations.
Judge Stephanie Haines in the US ruled that President Donald Trump has the authority to explain the Venezuelan gang of the Aragua a terrorist organization and to deport its members under the Alien Enemies Act. She made the decision in judicial articles in the case of a Venezuelan man who is known as ASR
The judge did not ruled whether ASR was a member of the gang and said that people like him should get the chance to challenge their deportations.
Haines, appointed by Trump during his first term, seems to be the first judge to support the interpretation of the Alien Enemies Act through his administration, which the President invoked in March as a legal justification for deporting hundreds of men accused of his administration of the Aragua members.
Judges in New York, Colorado and Texas have ruled against the use of the law by Trump to deport Venezuelans.
Haines said that the government must provide notification in Spanish and English and, if necessary, must provide interpreters.
The Trump government has deported alleged gang members to a prison in El Salvador under a scheme in which the United States pay the Midden -American nation $ 6 million. It is part of Trump's Hardline approach to immigration.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(Reporting by Ryan Patrick Jones and Dietrich Knauth; Editing by Chris Reese and Nia Williams)
