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Last Updated:March 19, 2025, 17:52 IST
Kambli, who joined the US Department of Justice as Deputy Associate Attorney General just a month ago, is now tasked with defending Trump's decision to invoke the Alien Enemies Act
Indian-origin lawyer Abhishek Kambli. (Image via LinkedIn)
US President Donald Trump has appointed Indian-origin lawyer Abhishek Kambli to defend his use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which allows sweeping powers to deport individuals associated with foreign criminal organisations.
Kambli, who joined the US Department of Justice as Deputy Associate Attorney General just a month ago, is now tasked with defending Trump’s decision to invoke the Alien Enemies Act in an effort to send over 200 members of the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, to El Salvador. The gang has been linked to criminal activity, including drug trafficking, and Trump described them as an “invading force."
Trump’s action was the first time the Alien Enemies Act had been used since World War II. The law gives the president sweeping powers to deport non-citizens associated with hostile foreign entities, bypassing the need for a court hearing.
However, hours after the move, US District Judge James E. Boasberg blocked the deportation flights, arguing that a hearing was required to assess the situation further.
Kambli is representing Trump against Judge Boasberg’s decision. His argument asserted that the deportation flights were already in international waters, meaning they could not be called back. However, the judge found Kambli’s argument unconvincing, and Trump has since criticised the judge as an unelected “troublemaker and agitator," according to a report by India Today.
What Is The Alien Enemies Act?
The Alien Enemies Act was passed in 1798 during the administration of US President John Adams, amid fears of conflict with France. As part of the larger Alien and Sedition Acts, it gave the president authority to imprison or deport non-citizens from hostile nations during wartime. Although the Alien and Sedition Acts were largely repealed or allowed to expire, the Alien Enemies Act remained in force.
The law has only been used three times in US history—during the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II.
Under this law, individuals who are considered “subjects of a hostile nation" can be “apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed."
Trump’s Justification For Invoking The Law
Trump has framed his use of the law as a necessary measure to combat illegal immigration and protect the US from transnational criminal organisations.
In his proclamation on Saturday, Trump had stated that the Tren de Aragua gang is closely aligned with the Venezuelan government, led by President Nicolás Maduro. “The result is a hybrid criminal state that is perpetrating an invasion of and predatory incursion into the United States," he had said in a statement.
The American President described the gang’s actions as “irregular warfare" against the US, noting their involvement in a wide range of criminal activities, including human trafficking and drug distribution.
The Trump administration has repeatedly pledged to aggressively tackle illegal immigration, and the use of the Alien Enemies Act was seen as a key part of this plan. Even during his campaign, Trump hinted at using extraordinary powers to address illegal immigration and laid the groundwork through a series of executive orders on January 20.
Location :Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:March 19, 2025, 17:50 IST
News world Who Is Abhishek Kambli, The Indian-Origin Lawyer Representing Trump In Legal Battle Over Alien Enemies Act?
