SCOTUS Hits Pause on Trump’s Alien Enemies Deportations

It's just a pause. But it's something. We really may be trying to run out the clock for 4 years (or more).

In a surprise weekend move, the Supreme Court stepped in early Saturday to halt the Trump administration’s attempt to deport a group of Venezuelan migrants under the 18th‑century Alien Enemies Act.

The high court issued a terse order freezing any removals until further notice, drawing dissents from Justices Alito and Thomas and underscoring the urgency of the migrants’ emergency appeal.

The migrants’ lawyers—members of the ACLU and Democracy Forward—argued they faced imminent removal without adequate notice or opportunity to challenge the action in court. A Louisiana appeals court will now weigh in, but for the moment the administration must stand down and respond to the Supreme Court’s directive.

This marks the second time the Act has landed at the nation’s highest bench in as many weeks. (April 7, 2025 SCOTUS case here.)

Lower‑court judge James Boasberg, who earlier expressed sympathy but claimed he lacked authority to intervene, has also launched contempt proceedings against the administration for defying a previous halt order.

As the legal ping‑pong continues, one thing is clear: “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.”

Source: CNN