The U.S. Supreme Court has delivered a major decision, blocking the Trump administration’s attempt to accelerate deportations of Venezuelan nationals under the Alien Enemies Act, a law dating back to 1798.
The administration’s plan aimed to remove individuals suspected of gang ties with only 24 hours’ notice and limited opportunity to challenge their deportation. The Court ruled this process unconstitutional, citing violations of due process and insufficient legal safeguards for detainees.
This marks the second time the Court has intervened on this issue, previously issuing a temporary halt to the same policy last month. Justices reaffirmed that even under national security concerns, the government must provide fair legal procedures.
The case now returns to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to determine what standards must be met for such deportations to proceed legally. While this ruling currently applies to a group of detainees in Texas, similar blocks are active in other states. Over 100 individuals linked to Venezuelan criminal networks have already been deported under this law prior to the ruling.
President Trump responded with frustration, arguing the decision hampers his administration’s ability to protect Americans from foreign threats. The ruling underscores the ongoing legal tension between the executive branch and the courts over immigration enforcement tools, and it may influence how future administrations invoke historic laws in modern contexts.