The US Supreme Court has temporarily stopped the deportation of Venezuelan detainees being removed under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, following concerns raised by the ACLU over due process violations.
The emergency order, issued Saturday, halts removals of a group of detainees, many of whom were reportedly being deported without proper legal notification or language support. This follows reports of rushed deportations in Texas under a centuries-old law typically used during wartime.
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Former President Trump had invoked the act to target individuals linked to criminal groups like Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua. Since April 8, 137 of the 261 Venezuelans deported were removed using this law.
The ACLU says detainees weren’t told of their rights or given interpreters, and some were only provided notices in English. A lower court had already blocked some removals in March over due process concerns.
The decision drew dissents from Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, and it highlights rising tensions between the judiciary and the executive over immigration enforcement.
