The White House slammed the ruling and said it believes Trump will “ultimately prevail” in his effort to rapidly deport Venezuelan gangbangers.

A federal judge in Texas found on Thursday that President Donald Trump did not meet the necessary criteria to use the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Tren de Aragua members, dealing a blow to the administration as it attempts to remove criminal illegal immigrants from the country quickly.

The Trump administration looked to use the 18th-century wartime law to deport Venezuelans they say are members of the gang Tren de Aragua.