Trump defies judge order, defends use of Alien Enemies Act in deportation of Venezuelans

US President Donald Trump defended the invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to deport more than 200 alleged members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that has been linked to kidnapping, extortion, and contract killings, Reuters reported. "I can tell you this: these were bad people,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, referring to those who were deported to El Salvador. Trump said he was justified in using the Wartime Act because he saw the increase in immigration in recent years as an "invasion". The deportation operation followed Judge James Boasberg's order to block it, a court order that the Trump administration claimed it didn't defy. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to the accusations by saying, "The Administration did not ‘refuse to comply’ with a court order. The order, which had no lawful basis, was issued after terrorist TdA aliens had already been removed from US territory.