The Trump administration has transferred a Venezuelan migrant, who goes by the pseudonym “Cristian” in court filings, from Pennsylvania to a Texas detention facility for potential deportation, despite a federal judge’s order blocking his removal from the state or the US.
The transfer occurred shortly after the order was issued on April 15, raising concerns about the administration’s adherence to judicial authority.
Cristian who entered the US with his family in 2023 and worked in construction, was arrested in February after a neighbor accused him of belonging to the Tren de Aragua gang.
He denies any gang affiliation.
The administration has invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, traditionally enforced only in wartime, to deport Venezuelan migrants accused of gang ties.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) revealed that dozens of Venezuelans were targeted for deportation under this law, which the Supreme Court recently restricted, prompting migrants to seek judicial protection.
Migrants were transferred to northern Texas, a district with conservative judges perceived as less likely to block deportations.
Court documents unsealed on April 24, 2025, reveal that Venezuelan migrants subject to removal under the Alien Enemies Act are being given only 12 hours to decide whether to contest their deportation, a timeframe immigration attorneys argue is unreasonably short
In a separate case, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to return a 20-year-old Venezuelan man, Cristian, to the US after he was deported to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act.
Cristian, part of a group protected by a prior court settlement, was entitled to remain in the US while his asylum claim was under review.
His deportation marks the second case in which a migrant with protected status was mistakenly removed under the act.
The administration’s actions have sparked legal and human rights concerns, highlighting the contentious application of the Alien Enemies Act and growing scrutiny over the administration’s deportation practices.
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