The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that President Trump's administration may temporarily continue using an 18th-century wartime law, the Alien Enemies Act, to facilitate rapid deportations of suspected gang members, pending further legal challenges.
Supreme Court Backs Trump's Use of Wartime Law for Mass Deportations
Supreme Court Backs Trump's Use of Wartime Law for Mass Deportations
Court ruling allows swift removals of alleged gang members while ensuring due process rights are upheld.
The U.S. Supreme Court has granted President Donald Trump the ability to utilize a seldom-used wartime law, the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, to expedite the deportation of individuals accused of gang affiliations—specifically, members of the Tren de Aragua gang. This decision comes in the wake of a lower court's temporary injunction that had stopped the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador, which raised questions regarding the legal validity of such deportations.
The Supreme Court's ruling, issued on Monday, indicated that while the administration can proceed with deportations, individuals must be afforded the chance to contest their removal in court. "The notice must be afforded within a reasonable time and in such a manner as will allow them to actually seek habeas relief," the justices noted in their unsigned decision. The ruling follows a challenge presented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of five detained migrants, which the court determined was not properly filed in the appropriate jurisdiction, Texas.
Despite the Trump administration celebrating the decision as a victory for border security and national law, dissenting justices voiced concern over the implications for the rule of law. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, alongside three liberal justices, warned against the legal ramifications of the administration's approach.
In response, Trump referred to the decision as a "great day for justice in America," asserting that it affirms the authority of the presidency to safeguard the nation's borders. The ACLU expressed their disappointment at having to restart the legal process, yet also viewed the ruling as a significant win in ensuring individuals have the right to contest their deportation.
The Alien Enemies Act allows the president to detain and deport citizens of adversary nations, a power last utilized during World War II. Rights groups have criticized the recent deportations and the law's invocation, arguing that many individuals have been wrongfully classified as gang members—often based on tattoos or other factors—despite lacking any criminal history. The Biden administration's immigration officials stated that detainees underwent rigorous vetting as alleged gang members prior to their deportation.
This latest ruling vacates a previous injunction from federal judge James Boasberg, who had characterized the government's defense as "woefully insufficient." Legal commentators and civil rights advocates continue to question the constitutional implications of using this law absent a formal declaration of war by Congress, emphasizing the need for adherence to due process in immigration enforcement.
The Supreme Court's ruling, issued on Monday, indicated that while the administration can proceed with deportations, individuals must be afforded the chance to contest their removal in court. "The notice must be afforded within a reasonable time and in such a manner as will allow them to actually seek habeas relief," the justices noted in their unsigned decision. The ruling follows a challenge presented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of five detained migrants, which the court determined was not properly filed in the appropriate jurisdiction, Texas.
Despite the Trump administration celebrating the decision as a victory for border security and national law, dissenting justices voiced concern over the implications for the rule of law. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, alongside three liberal justices, warned against the legal ramifications of the administration's approach.
In response, Trump referred to the decision as a "great day for justice in America," asserting that it affirms the authority of the presidency to safeguard the nation's borders. The ACLU expressed their disappointment at having to restart the legal process, yet also viewed the ruling as a significant win in ensuring individuals have the right to contest their deportation.
The Alien Enemies Act allows the president to detain and deport citizens of adversary nations, a power last utilized during World War II. Rights groups have criticized the recent deportations and the law's invocation, arguing that many individuals have been wrongfully classified as gang members—often based on tattoos or other factors—despite lacking any criminal history. The Biden administration's immigration officials stated that detainees underwent rigorous vetting as alleged gang members prior to their deportation.
This latest ruling vacates a previous injunction from federal judge James Boasberg, who had characterized the government's defense as "woefully insufficient." Legal commentators and civil rights advocates continue to question the constitutional implications of using this law absent a formal declaration of war by Congress, emphasizing the need for adherence to due process in immigration enforcement.
