In 1798, with the U.S. preparing for what it believed would be a war with France, Congress passed a series of laws that increased the federal government’s reach. The Alien Enemies Act was created to give the president wide powers to imprison and deport noncitizens in time of war.

The president’s invocation of the wartime law enacted in 1798 was quickly blocked by a federal judge. It had only been used three times before in U.S. history.

In a 226-year span, the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 had been invoked only three times — until now. President Donald Trump fulfilled a campaign promise to use the wartime act as a shortcut to deport suspected members of a Venezuelan gang, according to an executive order signed March 15.