President Donald Trump recently signed HR 1968, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act for the year 2025, which has garnered significant bipartisan support and prevented potential government shutdown. The resolution extends the government budget until the end of September 2025, having passed both the House and the Senate with votes from 10 Democrats alongside mostly Republican support.
Despite facing criticism from within his party, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced his intention to support the Continuing Resolution, receiving backlash from some Democratic colleagues. The act's passage was particularly notable because Senator Rand Paul was the only member of the Republican party to vote against it. Responding to the approval, Trump expressed his satisfaction, stating, "I was very impressed by the Senate passing the CR," during comments made at Joint Base Andrews.
Before the bill was signed, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released a statement urging her fellow Democrats to reconsider their stance. "America has experienced a Trump shutdown before - but this harmful legislation only makes things worse," she remarked, highlighting the involvement of several Democratic lawmakers who also opposed the bill, including Representatives Rosa Delauro and Senators Patty Murray.
On March 15, 2025, the day following the signing of the continuing resolution, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target the designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TDA). This decision was announced mere hours after Chief Judge James E. Boasberg of the DC Circuit ruled against using this law to deport five Venezuelans already under immigration detention. The law has been invoked only three times previously: during the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II, and it allows for the deportation of nationals declared enemies during wartime.
According to the proclamation made by Trump, all Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age and older who are linked to TDA, and who are present within the U.S., can be detained without the benefit of full legal processes characteristic of conventional deportation proceedings. Reports indicate the organization has been steadily infiltrated by individuals unlawfully entering the United States and is suspected of committing violent crimes, including extortion and trafficking.
Trump's administration has invoked this law under claims asserting the group's recent activities pose direct risks to public safety and the well-being of American citizens. Following the proclamation's announcement, major civil liberties groups, including the ACLU and Democracy Forward, swiftly filed lawsuits opposing the actions. They argue it could lead to the arbitrary deportation of any Venezuelan regardless of their individual connections to terrorism or criminal behavior.
Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, commented critically on Trump’s utilization of the law, stating, "The invocation of the president's authority... is the latest step in an accelerating authoritarian playbook." She emphasized the problematic nature of such unprecedented uses of wartime powers when the nation is not formally engaged in conflict or under any imminent threat of invasion.
On March 15, a temporary restraining order was granted to prevent the immediate deportation of five Venezuelans, with another hearing scheduled shortly thereafter to establish the potential broader application of this legal framework to all deportations linked to the TDA.
Previously, since September 11, 2024, the Aurora Police Department had made significant progress tracking members of TDA, resulting in eight arrests connected to their violent activities, including one incident involving gunfire at properties under the gang’s influence.
The Aurora authorities have confirmed growing concerns about TDA's activities, resulting in the formation of specialized task forces to address their impact on local communities. The gang's ties have been investigated following the State Department's official designation of TDA as a foreign terrorist organization on February 20, 2025. This change marked the escalation of scrutiny on the group's activities as reports surfaced of brutal crimes, including murders and kidnappings orchestrated by its members.
During his announcement, Trump reinforced the connection between gang activities and the Venezuelan government led by Nicolás Maduro, claiming they utilize terrorism as part of their strategy against the U.S.
The invocation of the Alien Enemies Act signals more than immediate immigration enforcement; it reflects the administration’s broader stance on national security and willingness to tighten controls at the southern border, catering to proponents of stricter immigration policies.
These recent developments culminate within a heated political climate where partisan divides shape policymaking on sensitive topics, particularly immigration and national security. The outcomes of these legislative actions could set precedent for how the United States tackles complex immigration issues moving forward.