Supreme Court Halts Trump Deportations of Venezuelan Detainees

The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan detainees under the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century wartime law, following emergency appeals from civil rights groups. This unprecedented move comes amid concerns that the administration is using the Act to circumvent standard immigration procedures by targeting alleged gang members without sufficient due process. The justices' order prevents removals until further legal arguments are heard, with some dissent from Justices Thomas and Alito. Civil liberties advocates argue that the accelerated deportation process deprives migrants of the realistic opportunity to contest their removal, and that the law is being misapplied since the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela. Lower courts had previously declined to intervene, but the Supreme Court's action ensures detainees cannot be deported until the case is fully evaluated. The administration has been instructed to hold off on any further deportations pending additional court review.