(Reuters) – A federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled that the United States could use the Foreign Enemy Act of 1798 to quickly expel defendants Venezuelan gang members in the western part of the state, but had to give them at least 21 days of notice and a chance to challenge their lawsuit.
U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie Haines ruled that President Donald Trump has the right to declare Venezuelan gang Aragua a terrorist organization and expel its members under the Alien Enemy Act. She made a ruling in court documents called ASR
The judge did not decide whether ASR was a member of the gang and said there must be someone like him who had the opportunity to challenge his deportation.
Haines, appointed by Trump's term, appears to be the first judge to support his administration's interpretation of the Alien Enemies Act, which the president in March cited as a legal defense to expel hundreds of soldiers accused of being members of the Tren de Aragua.
Judges in New York, Colorado and Texas ruled that Trump used the law to expel Venezuelans.
Haines said the government must provide notifications in Spanish and English and provide interpreters if necessary.
The Trump administration has deported so-called gang members to a prison in El Salvador in accordance with the U.S. arrangement that paid $6 million to Central American countries. It's part of Trump's difficult approach to immigration.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(Reported by Ryan Patrick Jones and Dietrich Knauth; Editors by Chris Reese and Nia Williams)
