Federal Courts Block Trump’s Alien Enemies Act Use, Agency Dismantling, Parole Revocation; Law Firms Perkins Coie, Susman Godfrey Win Challenges

Federal courts have issued multiple rulings against actions taken by President Donald Trump's administration. Two judges have barred the use of the Alien Enemies Act for deportations, ruling that Trump broke the law with these actions. Additionally, a federal judge blocked Trump's attempt to dismantle three small federal agencies. The administration also lost an appeal aimed at revoking parole for Cuban and other migrants.

Courts in New York and Colorado rejected the repeal of protected status for Haitian, Cuban, and Venezuelan immigrants and disallowed the use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to transfer Venezuelans. In legal battles involving law firms, Trump's executive orders targeting firms such as Perkins Coie LLP and Susman Godfrey have faced court challenges. Perkins Coie, which had sued against Trump's orders, emerged victorious in recent weeks. Trump's deal with Paul Weiss, intended to avoid punitive executive orders, has complicated his administration's legal efforts, with courts striking down orders punishing law firms. New York's oldest law firm, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, reached a deal with Trump to avoid such an order, but this has led to an exodus of lawyers and placed the firm on uncertain footing. Overall, these judicial decisions represent setbacks for Trump's policies on immigration and his confrontations with major law firms.