Judge extends ban on deportations from Colorado stemming from Trump's use of 1798 law [View all]

Source: AP

Updated 1:50 PM EDT, April 22, 2025


DENVER (AP) — A federal judge has extended her order temporarily preventing the Trump administration from moving or deporting anyone from Colorado under an 18th century wartime act that has become ensnared in a U.S. Supreme Court battle.

District Court Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney cited the high court’s weekend order barring removal of anyone from North Texas, where the ACLU had contended the administration was preparing to deport Venezuelans under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 without giving them the legal notice required under a prior supreme court ruling.

Sweeney continued her freeze on removals from Colorado until May 6 and indicated she may extend it further. She required the federal government to provide 21 days’ notice to anyone it seeks to deport so they can contest their removal. She also expressed skepticism about the legality of Trump’s use of the law to claim the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua was invading the United States.

“At a bare minimum, ‘invasion’ means more than the Proclamation’s description of TdA’s ‘infiltrat(ion),’ ‘irregular warfare,’ and ‘hostile actions’ against the United States,” Sweeney wrote.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportations-colorado-1798-law-85415daed2e51ac9e53ecb088139c6ce