The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily paused the deportation of a group of Venezuelan nationals accused of gang involvement, following a legal challenge from a civil liberties organization.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit arguing that the men, currently held in Texas, were not given a fair opportunity to challenge their deportation in court. The detainees had allegedly received removal notices in English, even though at least one of them speaks only Spanish. The ACLU warned that many of the individuals could be deported to face possible life sentences in El Salvador, without proper legal recourse.
The Trump administration has been using the rarely invoked 1798 Alien Enemies Act to justify deporting individuals it deems a national security threat. This law gives the president authority to detain and deport individuals from nations considered hostile, bypassing standard legal processes. Previously used only three times in U.S. history—all during wartime—it was last employed during World War II, when thousands of people of Japanese descent were imprisoned without trial.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration’s actions, labeling the legal opposition as “meritless litigation” and accusing critics of prioritizing the rights of “terrorist aliens” over those of American citizens.
As of April 8, 137 out of 261 Venezuelans deported to El Salvador were removed under the Alien Enemies Act, according to a senior official. President Trump has accused the Venezuelan gang “Tren de Aragua” of organizing a criminal invasion of U.S. territory.
While the Supreme Court previously allowed the administration to proceed with deportations under the act, it also ruled that individuals must be given the chance to contest their removal. The Court’s latest order reinforces this position, putting a hold on deportations until due process concerns are addressed.
Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the decision.
In his second inaugural address earlier this year, President Trump vowed to eliminate all foreign gangs and criminal networks from U.S. soil. However, his aggressive immigration measures have encountered significant legal resistance since he returned to office.
One case has drawn particular attention: Kilmar Abrego García, a Salvadoran national mistakenly deported under gang-related accusations. While the government claims he is linked to MS-13, his family and attorney deny any connection, and he has no criminal convictions. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that he should be returned to the U.S., but the administration maintains he will never be allowed to live in the country again.
Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who visited Abrego García in El Salvador, reported that he had been transferred from the infamous mega-prison Cecot to a different facility.
