A federal appellate court has issued a significant ruling against the Trump administration’s deportation policy targeting Venezuelan nationals. The policy, based on an obscure 18th-century wartime law, was struck down in a 2-1 decision by the D.C. Circuit Court. The case brought into question the constitutional due process rights of those facing deportation, ultimately leading to a halt in the administration’s efforts to proceed with mass removals under the contested statute.

At the heart of the case was the application of a centuries-old wartime provision, initially designed for national security emergencies. The Trump administration had invoked this law to fast-track deportations of certain non-citizens, particularly Venezuelans, amid rising tensions in U.S.-Venezuela relations. However, critics argued that the law was being misapplied and lacked modern constitutional safeguards.

The panel of judges on the D.C. Circuit Court included Patricia Millett, an appointee of former President Barack Obama. She and another judge ruled that the policy failed to adequately provide due process protections, particularly the right to seek habeas corpus — a legal procedure that allows individuals to challenge unlawful detention. This decision underscored the importance of judicial oversight in immigration and deportation matters.

Opposition to the policy extended beyond just legal concerns. Civil rights advocates and immigration groups hailed the court’s decision as a victory for fundamental rights. They argued that using outdated wartime laws to bypass the legal system posed dangerous precedents, especially when applied to vulnerable groups such as Venezuelan asylum seekers fleeing political unrest and humanitarian crises in their home country.

Despite the setback, the Trump administration is expected to push back. Legal experts believe that the next move will be to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. The administration hopes that the conservative-leaning high court will side with their broader interpretation of executive power in immigration matters and reduce the role of lower courts in reviewing deportation policies.

Attorney General Pam Bondi criticized the appellate court’s decision, defending the administration’s stance and signaling a strong intent to escalate the case. She stated that if necessary, the matter would be brought before the Supreme Court to preserve what she described as vital enforcement tools. This ongoing legal battle highlights the tension between executive immigration policy and constitutional safeguards.