In a move that could only come from the Donald himself, former President Trump pulled a dusty 18th-century law out of a hat to claim the U.S. was facing an ‘invasion’ from a Venezuelan gang. Yes, you read that right. This week, Trump alleged that the Tren de Aragua, a notorious criminal organization in Venezuela, was encroaching on our home turf. He even went as far as to declare these individuals as ‘enemies of the state’.

Enter District Judge James E. Boasberg, who stepped in like your spirited college professor just when things were about to get way out of hand. Reacting to Trump’s hasty proclamation, Boasberg issued an immediate order blocking the deportation of several migrants. He explained that any delay experienced by the government was just a minor inconvenience against the potential breach of rights facing these individuals. Talk about serving justice!

The Alien Enemies Act of 1798, yes, that’s a thing, has only been pulled from the archives a few times in history, and all of those instances involved actual wars. But here we are in 2025, where it’s being dragged into the mix over a gang, because apparently, logic takes a vacation when Trump’s around. His proclamation came just hours before Boasberg’s hearing where he referred to the migrants as ‘gang members’ due to the government’s convenient, quick categorization.

While Trump framed his proclamation as a fight against what he called a criminal encroachment on U.S. sovereignty, immigration lawyers and civil rights advocates scrambled to block the move. Cue the ACLU, stepping in to remind everyone that the ‘war on gang violence’ can’t justify bypassing due process.

Ultimately, Judge Boasberg halted all deportations for up to 14 days while the courts can decide the constitutionality of Trump’s overreach. Whether this is a victory or a temporary reprieve remains to be seen, but it’s clear one thing: trying to use a centuries-old law as a quick fix to a complex issue isn’t just misguided, it’s downright dangerous.

As we all wait to see how this saga unfolds, one thing’s for sure: the judicial system is keeping more checks on power, and perhaps Trump will learn that history isn’t as simple as he thinks.