NPR informs and connects communities around the country, providing reliable information in times of crisis.

Federal funding helps us fulfill our mission to create a more informed public and ensures that public radio remains available to everyone.

Learn more about safeguarding the future of public media.

Visit protectmypublic public media.org.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst.

President Trump today invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expand his deportation powers.

A federal judge had already granted a temporary restraining order to prevent five Venezuelan men in immigration custody from being removed for at least 14 days.

The judge's order could soon be expanded to all Venezuelans.

And here's Eric McDaniel has more.

The law hasn't been used since World War II when it was invoked to detain people of Japanese, German, and Italian descent.

It grants the president the authority to deport nationals of an enemy nation during wartime.

But Congress hasn't declared war.

So in January, Trump issued an executive action that designated the Venezuelan gang Trenda Aragua as a foreign terrorist

organization. On those tenuous legal grounds, Trump's Saturday order authorizes expedited

removal of all Venezuelan citizens 14 years and older, who are deemed to be members of the gang

and are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. It says they are, quote, liable to be

apprehended, restrained, secured,

and removed as alien enemies. Further legal developments are expected in the coming days.

Eric McDaniel and PR News, Washington.

The National Weather Service says severe storms with damaging winds, hail, and possible tornadoes

could happen across much of the South today. Tornado watches and warnings are up for parts of several states, including Alabama.

More than two dozen tornadoes were reported overnight, hitting several Midwestern states.

...