Supreme Court Blocks Trump's Use of Alien Enemies Act to Deport Venezuelan Migrants

WASHINGTON D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court has extended its block on the Trump administration's attempt to deport Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. In a 7-2 decision, the Court ruled that the administration failed to provide constitutionally adequate notice to the detainees, thereby violating their due process rights. The case has been remanded to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for further proceedings.

President Donald Trump reacted to the ruling with a post on his social media platform, stating in all capital letters, "THE SUPREME COURT WON'T ALLOW US TO GET CRIMINALS OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!" He followed up with a longer post expressing his dissatisfaction with the decision.

The majority opinion emphasized that the administration's expedited removal process did not meet constitutional standards. The Court noted that detainees were given as little as 12 hours' notice before deportation, without sufficient information on how to challenge their removal. The justices stated, "Under these circumstances, notice roughly 24 hours before removal, devoid of information about how to exercise due process rights to contest that removal, surely does not pass muster" .

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented, arguing that the Court lacked jurisdiction over the matter and that the migrants had not met the requirements for relief.

The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan nationals alleged to be members of the Tren de Aragua gang, a criminal organization. However, a declassified intelligence memo contradicted claims of Venezuelan government involvement with the gang .

The Supreme Court's decision does not prevent the administration from using other immigration laws to pursue deportations but restricts the use of the Alien Enemies Act without proper legal procedures. The case will continue in the Fifth Circuit to determine the legality of the administration's actions and the appropriate notice required for deportations under this statute.

Lee Gelernt, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, commented, "For now, this means that no more individuals can be hurried away to a brutal foreign prison, perhaps incommunicado for the rest of their lives".

-------------

At Cleveland 13 News, we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable reporting. If you spot an error, omission, or have information that may need updating, please email us at tips@cleveland13news.com. As a community-driven news network, we appreciate the help of our readers in ensuring the integrity of our reporting.