Former President Donald Trump erupted on Truth Social early Saturday morning after a federal judge—one he appointed—issued a permanent injunction blocking his administration from deporting Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act. The decision triggered yet another classic Trump outburst, this time framing a routine legal setback as the end of America as we know it.
The Court Blocks Trump’s Immigration Order
The ruling, handed down by U.S. District Judge Fernandez Rodriguez, directly challenges one of the Trump administration’s most controversial immigration tactics. Citing the Alien Enemies Act, the administration had planned to detain and deport large numbers of Venezuelan nationals currently held in the Southern District of Texas.
In her decision, Judge Rodriguez wrote:
“The court concludes that as a matter of law, the executive branch cannot rely on the A.E.A., based on the proclamation, to detain the named petitioners and the certified class, or to remove them from the country.”
The judgment effectively bars both the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice from proceeding with the planned deportations, marking a significant legal blow to Trump’s broader strategy of bypassing Congress with sweeping executive actions.
Trump Responds with a Familiar Pattern: Fire and Fury
Trump’s reaction to the ruling was immediate and familiar. He took to his social platform, Truth Social, to deliver an apocalyptic rebuke of the U.S. legal system.
“Can it be so that Judges aren’t allowing the USA to Deport Criminals, including Murderers, out of our Country and back to where they came from?” Trump posted just after 3 a.m.
“If this is so, our Country, as we know it, is finished! Americans will have to get used to a very different, crime filled, LIFE. This is not what our Founders had in mind!!!”
The tone of his post—alarmist and accusatory—mirrors the rhetorical strategy he often uses when judicial decisions constrain his authority. Instead of addressing the legal substance, Trump frames the ruling as a personal attack and a threat to the very fabric of the nation.
A Judge of His Own Choosing
The irony of Trump’s outrage is that the judge behind this ruling was nominated by him in 2019. U.S. District Judge Fernandez Rodriguez was confirmed by a Republican-controlled Senate and was widely viewed as a conservative jurist aligned with Trump’s agenda.
That the ruling came from one of his own appointments adds a layer of political sting. It underscores a fact often overlooked in the noise: federal judges, even those chosen for ideological alignment, are not guaranteed to rule in the president’s favor.
Legal experts noted that the Alien Enemies Act has rarely been used in modern times and warned that invoking it without congressional support or a declared state of war was a legal overreach.
Twitter Reacts: Satire and Skepticism
The internet didn’t wait long to weigh in. On X (formerly Twitter), Trump’s quote — “Our Country, as we know it, is finished!” — quickly became fodder for mockery.
Political analyst Josh Barro tweeted,
“Trump appointed the judge. Trump overreached with a centuries-old law. The system worked. And somehow… America is finished?”
Comedian Laurie Kilmartin added,
“Imagine losing in court and deciding democracy itself is broken. Sounds like a guy who’s never passed a group project without threatening the teacher.”
Constitutional Rights and Legal Boundaries
Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act was always legally questionable. Originally enacted in 1798, the law was designed to allow for the detention of nationals from hostile foreign powers during wartime. Critics argue that applying it to asylum seekers from Venezuela—a country with which the U.S. is not at war—is a clear stretch of its intended scope.
Judge Rodriguez echoed that concern, noting that a presidential proclamation is not sufficient grounds to bypass existing immigration law and constitutional protections. Her ruling emphasized that such executive actions must still conform to due process and legal precedent.
What This Means Going Forward
The ruling represents a broader warning to the Trump administration: executive orders cannot circumvent legal scrutiny. While Trump has repeatedly attempted to test the boundaries of presidential power, the judiciary—regardless of who sits on the bench—continues to assert its role as a constitutional check.
This episode is likely not the last clash between Trump and the courts. With multiple cases related to immigration, civil liberties, and even Trump’s personal legal exposure still pending, his relationship with the judicial branch remains fraught.
But for now, the message from Judge Rodriguez is clear: the rule of law is still in effect, even if the former president finds it inconvenient.
