Trump administration moves Venezuelan despite federal deportation block

On April 15, 2025, the Trump administration transferred a Venezuelan man, identified in legal documents as A.S.R., from Pennsylvania to a Texas detention center for possible deportation despite a federal judge's prior ruling temporarily prohibiting his removal from the state or the country. According to a Department of Justice lawyer, the move occurred just 30 minutes after U.S. District Judge Stephanie Haines issued her order. The man was later taken to the Bluebonnet Detention Center in Anson, Texas.

Although there is no formal accusation that the administration violated the court order, the transfer highlights the Trump administration’s assertive strategy in targeting Venezuelan migrants suspected of being affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang. Multiple courts, including the Supreme Court, have been involved in halting or limiting these deportations.

Court filings reveal that A.S.R. was one of several Venezuelans the administration sought to deport under the rarely used Alien Enemies Act, a law dating back to 1798 and traditionally applied during wartime. The Supreme Court recently intervened, temporarily blocking these deportations and mandating legal safeguards.

Trump, who began a second presidential term in January, has escalated efforts to remove undocumented immigrants, often clashing with judicial rulings. His administration has labeled Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization, but A.S.R. denies any affiliation with the group. His legal team, including attorneys from the ACLU, say he arrived in the U.S. in November 2023 with his family and worked in construction in Philadelphia. He was arrested in February after a neighbor accused him of gang ties.

At an April 17 court hearing, government lawyers admitted that A.S.R.’s relocation from Judge Haines' jurisdiction may have occurred before his attorneys could file a petition to challenge his deportation. The judge has requested written arguments to determine whether she retains jurisdiction over the case.

Critics argue that the administration’s actions reflect a pattern of disregarding unfavorable court decisions. Trump’s aggressive immigration stance continues to fuel legal and political tensions, particularly as Venezuelans detained nationwide seek judicial protection under constitutional guarantees