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In a significant legal intervention, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary stay early Saturday, halting the Trump administration’s efforts to deport Venezuelan men currently in immigration custody. This move came after attorneys representing these detainees raised urgent concerns that their clients faced imminent removal without the judicial review previously mandated by the court.
“The government is instructed not to remove any member of the proposed class of detainees from the United States until further orders are given by this court,” the justices stated in a brief decision that was unsigned.
Notably, conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from this ruling, which was announced around 12:55 a.m. ET.
In response to this situation, lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed immediate appeals in several courts, including the Supreme Court, following reports that some detainees had already been placed on buses under the presumption they were to be deported.
The ACLU raised alarms that the administration’s actions highlighted a plan to utilize a 1798 law—historically invoked only during wartime—to expedite these deportations while denying the men a viable route to contest their removals, contrary to Supreme Court directives.
The White House has yet to provide a comment regarding the Supreme Court’s decision.
Concerns Over Constitutional Implications
This case brings to the forefront critical discussions concerning the Trump administration’s respect for the limits imposed by the Supreme Court. It holds the potential to spark a severe discord between the legislative and executive branches of government, possibly leading to a constitutional crisis.
Since his election, President Trump, who pledged a tough stance against illegal immigration, has invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act in attempts to swiftly deport alleged members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang his administration classifies as a terrorist entity.
This law was last utilized during World War II to detain individuals of Japanese, German, and Italian descent.
Trump and his senior officials maintain that they possess extensive executive power governing immigration, thereby testing the balance of authority among government branches.
During a related court hearing on Friday, a government attorney stated that although they were unaware of specific deportation plans from the Department of Homeland Security, there was a possibility of deportations occurring as early as Saturday.
On the same day, the Trump administration achieved a legal win when an appeals court suspended contempt charges that District Judge James Boasberg had considered against officials for allegedly breaching his mid-March orders that barred action under the Alien Enemies Act concerning the deportation of Venezuelan gang members.
Judge Boasberg affirmed that there was ‘probable cause’ to hold these officials in criminal contempt, expressing concern over the potential for more deportations imminently. However, he also indicated that he felt constrained in his ability to intervene at that moment.
Previously, Trump had called for Boasberg’s impeachment in reaction to an unfavorable ruling, an action that drew a rare public admonition from U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts.
Simultaneously, as discussions unfolded in Boasberg’s court, the ACLU was pursuing concurrent legal avenues to prevent the deportation of Venezuelans detained in Texas.
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As the situation developed, the Supreme Court upheld a ruling that required the Trump administration to facilitate the return of a Maryland man who had been mistakenly deported to El Salvador, although neither nation’s leadership appeared motivated to assist in his repatriation.
Following unsuccessful attempts to secure swift responses from various legal venues on Friday, ACLU lawyers secured the Supreme Court’s assistance to halt potential deportations.
Saturday’s court order invites the administration to respond to the ACLU’s request after the Fifth Circuit Court proceeds with its considerations.
Gang Membership Claims Under Scrutiny
The ACLU has reported that the detainees received notifications labeling them as members of Tren de Aragua.
The central question revolves around whether the Trump administration has adhered to the Supreme Court’s standards regarding the due process rights of these detainees prior to their deportation—especially concerning the risk of being sent to notorious prisons in El Salvador.
Clarity around the total number of individuals facing deportation and their intended destinations remains elusive.
The ACLU submitted a photograph of one of the notices to the court, which stated, “You have been determined to be an Alien Enemy subject to apprehension, restraint, and removal.” The document obscured the recipient’s identity but indicated that the detainee had refused to sign it.
Trump’s Position on Deportations
When questioned about the impending deportations, Trump claimed a lack of familiarity with the specific individuals involved but noted, “If they’re bad people, I would certainly authorize it.” He emphasized his belief that his election mandate supersedes judicial rulings, stating, “That’s why I was elected. A judge wasn’t elected.”
Defense attorneys and Democratic lawmakers have pressed the administration to substantiate its claims about the detainees’ alleged affiliations with the gang, which, while infamous for its involvement in criminal activities in South America, maintains a relatively minor presence in the U.S.
In a statement, Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for U.S. Homeland Security, commented, “We are not going to reveal the details of counter-terrorism operations, but we are complying with the Supreme Court’s ruling.”
Earlier in March, the Trump administration transported over 130 individuals identified as members of Tren de Aragua to El Salvador, with many migrants’ advocates arguing that those deported were not connected to gang activities and lacked an opportunity to dispute the government’s assertions against them.
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