Washington, D.C. – Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced on Friday a significant legal victory for the Department of Justice (DOJ) after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit overturned sanctions previously imposed by a lower court judge regarding the use of the Alien Enemies Act. The appeals court affirmed that U.S. District Judge James Boasberg's attempt to sanction the government for its handling of deportations under the controversial 1798 law constituted a "clear abuse of discretion."
Bondi lauded the decision on social media, stating, "Our @TheJusticeDept attorneys just secured a MAJOR victory defending President Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport illegal alien terrorists." She further emphasized that the D.C. Circuit's ruling highlighted "failed judicial overreach at its worst," reinforcing the administration's commitment to its agenda to "keep America Safe."
The D.C. Circuit's three-judge panel found that while the Justice Department's actions in proceeding with some deportations despite Judge Boasberg's temporary restraining order were "troubling," they did not meet the high bar for punitive sanctions against government attorneys. The sanctions had included daily fines and a referral for disciplinary action, stemming from a lawsuit filed by civil liberties groups challenging the administration's aggressive use of the Alien Enemies Act.
President Trump's administration has invoked the Alien Enemies Act, a rarely used law dating back to 1798, primarily to deport alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The administration contends that the activities of such groups constitute an "invasion or predatory incursion," thereby granting the President broad authority under the Act to remove non-citizens.
Civil liberties organizations have consistently challenged the application of the Alien Enemies Act, arguing that its use bypasses fundamental due process rights and is being misapplied in peacetime. While the D.C. Circuit's ruling provides a procedural win for the Justice Department, it did not address the underlying legality or constitutionality of the Alien Enemies Act's application in these cases, leaving those merits to be litigated further.
The legal battle over the scope and application of the Alien Enemies Act is expected to continue, with the administration vowing to persist in its efforts to deport individuals it deems threats to national security. The D.C. Circuit's decision marks a key development in the ongoing legal challenges to the President's immigration enforcement policies.