White House officials are defending President Donald Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport suspected gang members, arguing that courts do not have jurisdiction to review his decision.

A U.S. federal judge asked the Trump administration to explain how it failed to act on its court order to halt the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants, including alleged gang members, escalating the confrontation between the President and the federal judiciary.

Trump officials said the deportations don’t violate a judge’s order barring use of the Alien Enemies Act for removals -- but also questioned the order’s validity.