The Trump administration has likely exceeded its authority in invoking rarely applied laws to justify parts of its wide-ranging immigration crackdown, legal experts said. Still, the Supreme Court could ultimately determine if the White House has the far-reaching power it claims to decide who should be deported.

The Trump administration transferred hundreds of immigrants to El Salvador even as a federal judge issued an order temporarily barring the deportations under an 18th century wartime declaration targeting Venezuelan gang members,

The White House faces legal battle over its use of the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century law, under which it is deporting Venezuelans allegedly tied to organized crime.