In a major legal setback for the Trump administration, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ruled to keep in place its block on the deportation of Venezuelan migrants under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a wartime-era law rarely invoked in modern times. The court faulted the administration for attempting to remove the individuals without following constitutional due process, marking a critical intervention amid President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown since returning to office in January.
The unsigned and brief opinion from the justices granted a request by American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) attorneys to continue the stay on the deportations. The case centers around dozens of Venezuelan migrants currently held at a Texas detention center, many of whom were allegedly being readied for swift deportation without prior notice or an opportunity to contest the government’s allegations.
The Supreme Court’s decision comes amid accusations from the administration that the deportees are members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuela-originated gang labeled a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department. However, lawyers and family members of the migrants strongly deny these claims, asserting that many of those detained were never given the chance to defend themselves in court.
Friday’s ruling makes it clear that a notice served just 24 hours prior to deportation, without clear instructions on how to exercise legal rights, fails to meet constitutional standards. The court emphasized that due process—fundamental to U.S. law—requires both notice and a fair hearing before the government can take adverse actions such as deportation.
According to Reuters, the justices directed the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to determine what procedures would satisfy the Constitution in this case, while also clarifying that deportations could still be pursued under other immigration laws.
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As per ABC News, the court found that the interests of the detainees were “particularly weighty,” especially in light of a separate instance where the administration admitted it couldn’t reverse the wrongful deportation of a Salvadoran man.
The decision triggered a sharp response from President Trump, who took to social media calling the ruling a “bad and dangerous day for America.” He argued that even individuals accused of crimes are now being protected by a prolonged legal process, which, according to him, will only encourage more illegal migration.
Justice Samuel Alito, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, issued a dissent, arguing the Supreme Court overstepped its authority by intervening at this stage and questioned the legality of granting relief to detainees as a group.
Lee Gelernt, the ACLU’s lead attorney, described the ruling as a “powerful rebuke” to the government’s use of wartime authority during peacetime without proper legal process. He likened the deportation attempts to sending people to a “Gulag-type prison” in El Salvador, highlighting the gravity of the case.
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Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is based on public information. It is intended solely for informational purposes. EnrichPR does not alter or speculate on the facts and is not responsible for external claims or legal interpretations.
