Supreme Court lets Trump administration resume deportations under Alien Enemies Act

The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the Trump administration can quickly deport some immigrants without a hearing. This decision supports President Trump's strict immigration policies. The court did not make a judgment about the case itself but decided that it should have been filed in Texas, not in Washington, D.C., where it was originally brought.

The court explained that because the detainees are held in Texas, the case should not have started in Washington. The decision was made by a conservative majority, with a split vote of 6-3. The ruling allows the Justice Department to use an old law from 1798, called the Alien Enemies Act, to deport immigrants alleged to be part of a Venezuelan crime gang.

Attorney General Pam Bondi celebrated the ruling as a big win for the rule of law and argued that a judge in Washington should not have control over the president's authority to handle foreign policy and ensure the safety of Americans. The administration claims this law gives the president broad power to detain and deport noncitizens from countries at war with the U.S. However, an appeals court previously stated that such actions should only apply to foreign governments and not to gangs.

A judge had previously ruled that accused members of a gang called Tren de Aragua should have a chance to prove they are not part of the gang, but the administration successfully convinced the Supreme Court to continue deportations while the matter is still being litigated.

The Acting Solicitor General, Sarah Harris, highlighted the importance of whether the president or the courts should make decisions in national security matters, stating that the Constitution favors the president in these cases. She argued that any challenges from immigrants should be made in Texas, where they are detained.

Support for the administration came from 27 Republican attorneys general, who stated they appreciate having a president who prioritizes American safety and security.

However, some conservative legal experts and former officials argued that it is important to determine whether the president or the courts have the ultimate authority over the powers given to him under the Alien Enemies Act. They emphasized that judicial review is an essential part of the checks and balances in the Constitution.

Attorneys representing the immigrants called the government's position "extraordinary," arguing that trying to categorize a gang under the Alien Enemies Act contradicts the limited wartime powers that Congress allowed. They mentioned that a pause on deportations is the only thing protecting these immigrants from being sent to a dangerous prison in El Salvador, where they might never be seen again.

The pause does not negatively affect the government, as the immigrants remain in custody while the legal proceedings continue. The judge had planned to hold a hearing on April 8 to discuss extending this pause into a longer-lasting order.