The U.S. Supreme Court recently stepped in to stop President Donald Trump from deporting Venezuelan immigrants linked to the gang Tren de Aragua. This decision came early Saturday morning and was a significant win for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which argued that the immigrants had not received proper notice about their deportation.
During his campaign, Trump promised to deport illegal immigrants who commit crimes. To support this, he used the Alien Enemies Act from 1798. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the administration must provide these suspected gang members a chance to contest their deportation. The court emphasized that without its intervention, many could be sent back to a dangerous situation in El Salvador without a fair chance to defend themselves.
The ruling specifically instructs the government not to remove any of the detainees until the court issues further orders. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito were the only dissenters in this decision.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had already indicated that Trump could use the Alien Enemies Act to deport individuals associated with gangs, but it reinforced the need for due process. The ACLU pointed out issues with the notices given to detainees, including language barriers, as some were provided information in English, while others only spoke Spanish. The ACLU also noted that detainees had not been informed of their right to contest their deportation in court.
The Trump administration claimed it had already deported 137 suspected members of Tren de Aragua under the Alien Enemies Act prior to this ruling. The Supreme Court’s latest order overturned a previous ruling by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who had temporarily blocked the enforcement of the Alien Enemies Act for five Venezuelan nationals and others who might be affected.
This ongoing legal battle highlights the tensions surrounding immigration policy and the rights of individuals facing deportation. The Supreme Court’s decision reflects a commitment to ensuring that due process is upheld, even in cases involving serious allegations.