Senator Rounds Discusses Trump Immigration Policy
President Donald Trump’s decision to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport violent criminal illegal aliens has ignited a fierce legal and political battle, drawing both praise and resistance.
The move comes as the administration targets members of Tren de Aragua, a notorious Venezuelan gang recently designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) defended Trump’s decision over the weekend, emphasizing the urgent need to remove dangerous individuals from U.S. soil.
“These individuals should never have been in the United States to begin with,” Rounds stated in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper. “And the question is, which laws are we using to get them back out, and whether or not the courts agree.”
The senator’s remarks reflect a broader concern over the security risks posed by criminal networks operating within the country. He applauded the administration’s commitment to fulfilling its promise to protect American families, reiterating that thousands of gang-affiliated illegal immigrants remain in the U.S.
However, the effort has encountered immediate legal pushback. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, an Obama appointee, issued an emergency order halting deportations under the 1798 law. In a striking display of judicial intervention, the ruling even required that any flights already in transit carrying the deportees be turned around. The decision raises significant constitutional and procedural questions, as well as concerns about the executive branch’s authority in matters of national security.
Republican @SenatorRounds defends Trump invoking wartime powers to speed up deportations but tells @JakeTapper, “We expect the executive branch to follow the law… We are a constitutional republic, and we will follow those laws.” pic.twitter.com/NI3LlgazI4
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) March 16, 2025
When asked whether Trump might defy or ignore the judge’s order, Rounds remained firm in his commitment to the rule of law. “I do know that we will follow the law,” he said. “We expect the executive branch to follow the law. We’ve said in the past that we will follow the law—that will remain consistent. We are a constitutional republic, and we will follow those laws.”
The senator underscored that the administration would continue exploring every legal avenue to ensure the removal of dangerous individuals. “These illegal immigrants to begin with that are here, they are parts of a violent gang,” he reiterated. “And if we can get them out of the United States, we’re going to do it with every legal means we have available.”
The Alien Enemies Act, part of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, grants the president broad authority to remove nationals of hostile nations during wartime or periods of conflict. While rarely invoked in modern history, Trump’s decision to use it in the context of foreign criminal organizations signals a forceful approach to immigration enforcement