Fifth Circuit Court Dismisses Challenge to Trump's Use of Alien Enemies Act

The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a challenge to President Donald Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act for deporting alleged members of Tren de Aragua on August 14, 2026. The court ruled that the case was moot since all three Venezuelan plaintiffs had already been removed from the United States under different immigration authorities. The Alien Enemies Act, which allows the president to detain and remove non-naturalized individuals from hostile nations under certain conditions, was last invoked by President Harry Truman in 1946. The Trump administration argued that the activities of Tren de Aragua constituted an 'invasion' under the law, as part of its broader immigration policy. Although the Supreme Court previously blocked removals under this act while the case was ongoing, it did not determine the legality of Trump's invocation. The Fifth Circuit's ruling leaves the question of the law's applicability unresolved, with two judges expressing support for the president's actions in their concurring opinions. Legal experts have differing opinions on the implications of the ruling, with some arguing that it could set a concerning precedent for executive power.