Administration officials said they expect the fight over using the wartime act to ultimately head to the Supreme Court.

Trump officials said the deportations don’t violate a judge’s order barring use of the Alien Enemies Act for removals -- but also questioned the order’s validity.

The White House has denied claims that it defied a federal judge’s order halting the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members, stating the removals occurred before the ruling. The Biden administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act to expel over 250 individuals linked to the Tren de Aragua gang.