A federal judge barred the Trump administration Saturday from carrying out deportations under a sweeping 18th century law that the president invoked hours earlier to speed removal of Venezuelan gang members from the United States.

The ruling came hours after Trump claimed the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua was invading the United States and invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime authority that allows the president broader leeway on policy and executive action to speed up mass deportations.

President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, alleging a Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, was invading the US. A judge temporarily blocked deportations following Trump's order, citing the need to prevent potential harm to those already in custody.