The U.S. Supreme Court has stepped in to pause the Trump administration's deportation of Venezuelans labeled as gang members, amid ongoing legal disputes questioning the validity of these actions.
Supreme Court Stalls Deportation of Venezuelan Detainees Amid Legal Challenge
Supreme Court Stalls Deportation of Venezuelan Detainees Amid Legal Challenge
High court's intervention grants reprieve to Venezuelans as ACLU lawsuit questions legality of deportations.
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued an order to halt the deportation of Venezuelans labeled as gang members under a controversial 18th-century wartime law, the Alien Enemies Act. This decision came after concerns were raised by civil liberties advocates regarding the treatment and potential consequences faced by these detainees.
The legal challenge was spearheaded by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which sued the administration for its plans to deport Venezuelans detained in a facility in North Texas. The high court's decision came on Saturday, stating that the government must refrain from removing any individuals from the identified detainee group until further notice. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from this ruling.
Former President Donald Trump had previously invoked the Alien Enemies Act, stating that the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) threatened U.S. territory by purportedly engaging in criminal activities. As of April 8, an official reported that 261 Venezuelans had been deported, with 137 removals carried out specifically under the wartime law.
The case gained momentum after a lower court temporarily halted deportations on March 15, prompting further scrutiny into the treatment of these individuals. The ACLU warned that without the Supreme Court's intervention, many detainees could face dire consequences, including life sentences in El Salvador, with limited opportunities to contest their deportation and designation as gang members.
The legal challenge was spearheaded by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which sued the administration for its plans to deport Venezuelans detained in a facility in North Texas. The high court's decision came on Saturday, stating that the government must refrain from removing any individuals from the identified detainee group until further notice. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from this ruling.
Former President Donald Trump had previously invoked the Alien Enemies Act, stating that the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) threatened U.S. territory by purportedly engaging in criminal activities. As of April 8, an official reported that 261 Venezuelans had been deported, with 137 removals carried out specifically under the wartime law.
The case gained momentum after a lower court temporarily halted deportations on March 15, prompting further scrutiny into the treatment of these individuals. The ACLU warned that without the Supreme Court's intervention, many detainees could face dire consequences, including life sentences in El Salvador, with limited opportunities to contest their deportation and designation as gang members.
