By Jan Wolfe

September 2 (Reuters) -A federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump unlawfully invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans he alleges are part of a criminal gang.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is the first federal appeals court to rule directly on a March 14 presidential proclamation invoking the 1798 law to justify rapid deportations.

The decision from the 5th Circuit, a conservative-leaning court based in New Orleans, is expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court.

The case before the 5th Circuit was brought by a group of alleged Tren de Aragua members being held at the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, Texas. The American Civil Liberties Union, which represents the men, has disputed the claims of gang membership.

The

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