In a significant legal blow to the Trump administration, the United States Supreme Court has temporarily halted the controversial deportation of Venezuelan migrants accused of gang affiliations under a rarely used 18th-century statute, the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) of 1798.
The US Supreme Court ’s ruling, issued early Saturday, responded to an emergency appeal by rights groups, particularly the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who condemned the move as a gross violation of due process and constitutional rights. The ACLU warned that dozens of Venezuelan migrants held in a Texas detention facility were facing “imminent removal” without proper legal recourse.
President Donald Trump, who recently returned to office following the 2024 elections, had invoked the AEA last month in a sweeping directive aimed at expelling undocumented migrants accused of belonging to the Venezuelan criminal syndicate, Tren de Aragua. The decision marked the first time the law has been used in over 80 years—previously invoked only during wartime periods like the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II.
Under the AEA, the executive is granted broad powers to detain and deport nationals of hostile foreign nations during times of war or perceived national threat. Trump argued that Venezuela, under Nicolás Maduro’s leadership, has been “perpetrating an invasion” by allowing violent gang elements to infiltrate the United States.
“The safety of American citizens must come first. We cannot allow foreign gangs to terrorize our streets,” Trump stated during a campaign-style rally in Arizona earlier this month.
However, critics say the move is an overreach and rooted in xenophobic motives. Human rights attorneys representing several of the deportees claimed that many were targeted simply due to their appearance, specifically tattoos resembling gang insignia, and had no proven criminal links.
In March, the Trump administration deported several alleged gang members to El Salvador, where they are now housed in the notorious Terrorism Confinement Center—a maximum-security facility known for its harsh conditions. The prison, designed to hold up to 40,000 inmates, has drawn international criticism for inhumane treatment. Inmates reportedly sleep in overcrowded, windowless cells, lack access to legal counsel, and are denied family visits.
Among the deported is Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident whose legal status was still under review at the time of his removal. The White House later admitted his deportation was an “administrative error,” triggering bipartisan outrage and renewed scrutiny of Trump’s deportation strategy.
In its brief but decisive order, the Supreme Court emphasized that no individual may be removed from U.S. soil without an opportunity to challenge the grounds for their deportation. The justices stated, “The government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this court.”
Legal experts say the ruling reinforces the constitutional guarantee of due process, even in matters of national security and immigration enforcement. “Even under the Alien Enemies Act, the government must ensure that individuals are not denied their basic legal rights,” said Professor Alina Martinez, an immigration law expert at Georgetown University.
The ACLU hailed the Supreme Court’s decision as a “vital step toward upholding the rule of law and protecting innocent lives.”
“Many of these individuals have fled violence and repression in Venezuela. To deport them without notice or legal representation under an archaic wartime statute is both immoral and unconstitutional,” said ACLU spokesperson Linda Rosen.
This ruling may set a precedent for future challenges to executive overreach in immigration policy. Trump’s aggressive stance on undocumented migrants has been a cornerstone of his political platform, with his campaign vowing to deport millions. However, Saturday’s decision suggests judicial pushback may shape the contours of that agenda.
Meanwhile, international observers and human rights organizations continue to monitor the condition of Venezuelan detainees held in El Salvador and have called for diplomatic dialogue to resolve the situation.
As the 2025 election year unfolds, immigration will undoubtedly remain a polarizing topic—with legal battles like this one at the heart of America’s evolving political and humanitarian discourse.