Supreme Court Temporarily Halts Deportation of Venezuelan Detainees

In a landmark decision, the US Supreme Court intervenes to postpone the deportation of Venezuelan detainees accused of gang affiliation, citing potential violations of civil liberties.

In a significant ruling, the US Supreme Court has intervened to halt the deportation of Venezuelans allegedly connected to gang activity, invoking an outdated wartime law from the 18th century. This decision stems from a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which argued against the Trump administration's planned deportations of individuals classified as gang members. The Court has temporarily ordered that "no member of the putative class of detainees" face removal from the United States until further instructions are issued.

President Donald Trump defended the deportations by citing the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, claiming that the Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua (TdA) posed a grave threat to national security through their illicit activities. So far, 261 Venezuelans have been deported to a controversial mega-jail in El Salvador, with at least 137 being removed under the Alien Enemies Act.

The debate intensified following a lower court's temporary block on deportations enacted on March 15, leaving many detainees in a precarious legal position. The ACLU emphasized that without the Court's intervention, many deportees could face grim prospects: a possible life sentence in El Salvador without adequate opportunity to contest their deportation status or designation as gang members. The dissenting opinions of Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito highlight the contentious nature of this ruling, indicating a division among Supreme Court justices regarding national security and civil rights.