US Supreme Court temporarily halts deportations of migrants

Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free

Your guide to what the 2024 US election means for Washington and the world

The US Supreme Court has made a significant decision regarding the deportation of a group of Venezuelan migrants by barring Donald Trump from using a rarely-used law dating back to the 18th century. The country’s highest court, in the early hours of Saturday, directed the government not to remove any member of the group of detainees from the United States until further notice.

The Trump administration had been trying to deport alleged members of a Venezuelan gang using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a law that has not been used since the second world war to intern non-US citizens of Italian, German, and Japanese descent. Despite the administration’s efforts, two of the court’s nine judges, conservatives Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, dissented from the majority ruling.

Lawyers representing the migrants, who are currently held in a Texas prison, expressed relief at the Supreme Court’s decision. Lead counsel Lee Gelernt of the American Civil Liberties Union stated, “These men were in imminent danger of spending their lives in a horrific foreign prison without ever having had a chance to go to court.”

Last month, several alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang were deported to a jail in El Salvador, ignoring a court order blocking their deportations. Lower court judge James Boasberg had issued a temporary restraining order to halt the administration’s attempts, which led to President Donald Trump calling for his impeachment.

Despite Boasberg’s ruling to turn around the planes carrying the alleged gang members, they were flown to El Salvador. Gelernt expressed relief that the Supreme Court prevented the administration from deporting them like others last month.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court lifted the freeze on deportations in a 5-4 vote, seen as a victory for the White House. However, the judgment did not address Trump’s use of the long-standing legislation. Instead, it focused on the jurisdiction in which the Venezuelan men filed their lawsuit.

Stay informed on the latest developments in US immigration policies and the legal battles surrounding them by unlocking the White House Watch newsletter for free. Sign up now to receive exclusive insights on the 2024 US election and its implications for Washington and the world.