Trump judges split over grouping deportation cases together or handling individually

Two federal judges in Texas appointed by President Donald Trump have issued conflicting rulings on whether migrant detainees can band together to challenge deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, an early sign of legal turbulence facing the administration’s use of the wartime law.

In a ruling Friday, U.S. District Judge James Hendrix denied a request by three immigrant detainees in the Northern District of Texas to pursue their case as a class, finding their claims were too varied to be litigated collectively. The judge said the petitioners’ differences, including asylum status, gang allegations, and factual defenses, made group relief inappropriate under federal court rules.