Judges extend Venezuela deportation blocks, question Trump's use of wartime law

By Luc Cohen, Tom Hals

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Two U.S. judges on Tuesday extended temporary blocks on some deportations of Venezuelan migrants and signaled that President Donald Trump's invocation of a 1798 law historically used in wartime to speed up their removal from the United States may not survive judicial review.

Denver-based U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney wrote in a ruling that Trump's administration must give Venezuelan migrants detained in Colorado notice 21 days in advance before any deportations under the Alien Enemies Act and must inform them of their right to challenge their removal.

And at a court hearing in Manhattan, U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein appeared inclined to require the administration to notify Venezuelans at least 10 days in advance before deporting them under that 18th century law. Hellerstein said he understands Trump's desire to move quickly on deportations but that the administration must afford migrants due process.

"This is not a secret court, an inquisition in medieval times. This is the United States of America," Hellerstein said.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-must-venezuelan-migrants-21-170124958.html