Published: 07:47 AM, 09 April 2025
Supreme Court lets Trump administration resume deportations under Alien Enemies Act
The US Supreme Court ruled on Sunday that the Trump administration is allowed to terminate millions of dollars in teacher grants under the president's anti-Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policy. -Getty Images
The Trump administration can resume deportation of certain immigrants, a divided Supreme Court said on Monday in a partial victory for US President Donald Trump's hardline approach to immigration.
The court did not rule on whether Trump can use the Alien Enemies Act to deport immigrants it says are members of a Venezuelan crime gang. And the majority said the immigrants should get a chance to contest their deportation.
But the ruling says the immigrants brought their challenge - which was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia - in the wrong court.
"The detainees are confined in Texas, so venue is improper in the District of Columbia," the majority wrote in an unsigned opinion that lifted a judge's order temporarily blocking deportations without hearings. The court has a 6-3 conservative majority. The three liberal justices, joined in part by conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, dissented.
The decision allows the Justice Department to continue using the 1798 law to deport immigrants it says are members of a Venezuelan crime gang.
"The Supreme Court has upheld the Rule of Law in our Nation by allowing a President, whoever that may be, to be able to secure our Borders, and protect our families and our Country, itself," Trump wrote on social media. "A GREAT DAY FOR JUSTICE IN AMERICA!"
Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in dissent that the decision is "indefensible."
"The Government's conduct in this litigation poses an extraordinary threat to the rule of law," adding: "We, as a Nation and a court of law, should be better than this."
Despite siding with the administration, the court's majority placed limits on how deportations may occur, emphasizing that judicial review is required.
Detainees "must receive notice after the date of this order that they are subject to removal under the Act. The notice must be afforded within a reasonable time and in such a manner as will allow them to actually seek habeas relief in the proper venue before such removal occurs," the majority wrote.
Detainees "must receive notice after the date of this order that they are subject to removal under the Act. The notice must be afforded within a reasonable time and in such a manner as will allow them to actually seek habeas relief in the proper venue before such removal occurs," the majority wrote.
Lee Gelernt, one of the attorneys representing the immigrants, called that an important victory.
