President Donald Trump has invoked the Alien Enemies Act for the first time since World War II, granting himself sweeping powers under a centuries-old law to deport people associated with a Venezuelan gang.

Administration officials said they expect the fight over using the wartime act to ultimately head to the Supreme Court.

While the White House insists it has complied with a recent court order temporarily blocking the president from invoking a rarely used wartime authority, ABC News' review of flight data and court documents suggests the Trump administration ignored the court's ruling.