On April 19, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary order halting the deportation of Venezuelan migrants under the Trump administration’s application of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. This decision came in response to concerns raised by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) about migrants being deported without judicial review, which contradicts prior directives from the Court. UNILAD+3Reuters+3The Week+3
The Trump administration had already deported over 200 individuals, some of whom were mistakenly sent to El Salvador’s maximum-security prison, CECOT, under allegations of gang affiliation. However, the administration acknowledged that many deportees had no criminal records. Latest news & breaking headlines+10Reuters+10UNILAD+10UNILAD+1Reuters+1
One prominent case is that of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident with legal status, who was deported in error. Despite a court order preventing his removal, Garcia was sent to El Salvador, where he remains imprisoned. The Supreme Court has ordered the administration to facilitate his return, but the process has been complicated by El Salvador’s refusal to release him. UNILAD+7AP News+7Honolulu Star-Advertiser+7UNILAD+7Latest news & breaking headlines+7Wikipedia+7Vanity Fair+1Wikipedia+1
The Court’s intervention underscores the ongoing legal and constitutional debates surrounding executive authority and due process in immigration enforcement. While the administration defends its actions as necessary for national security, critics argue that these measures violate fundamental rights and legal norms. Latest news & breaking headlines+1Reuters+1Reuters
This situation highlights the tension between the judiciary and the executive branch over immigration policies and the treatment of migrants, raising important questions about the balance of power and the protection of individual rights in the United States.
