A US federal judge has temporarily barred the Trump administration from carrying out deportations under a sweeping 18th century law.

Earlier on Saturday, President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime authority that allows the him broader leeway on policy and executive action to speed up mass deportations.

According to The Associated Press, the move came as Mr Trump claimed the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua was invading the US.

AP adds that authorities in several countries have reported arrests of Tren de Aragua members, even as Venezuela’s government claims to have eliminated the criminal organization.

In his ruling, US District Judge James E. Boasberg said he needed to issue his order immediately because the government was already flying migrants it claimed were newly deportable under the proclamation to be incarcerated in El Salvador and Honduras.

The Judge has halted deportations for those in custody for up to 14 days, and scheduled a Friday hearing in the case.