In a move that’s already drawing strong reactions, the United States Supreme Court has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s efforts to deport a group of Venezuelan migrants suspected of being members of the violent Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang. These individuals were set to be removed under the long-standing Alien Enemies Act, originally passed in 1798 to give the federal government authority to deal with foreign nationals who pose a threat during times of war or national emergency.
The court’s unsigned order stated clearly:
“Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court.”
While the decision didn’t completely shut down the administration’s case or approve the legal challenge brought by the migrants’ lawyers, it effectively paused the deportations—for now. The ruling applies to individuals currently detained within the Northern District of Texas.
Not all justices agreed with the pause. Conservative stalwarts Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito dissented from the Court’s decision, signaling their support for the administration’s efforts to deport known or suspected gang members tied to dangerous international criminal networks.
On the opposing side, attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) are representing the Venezuelan migrants. These lawyers claim that their clients—who are accused of being part of TdA, a violent gang known for extortion, human trafficking, and murder—should be granted due process before removal.
In a Supreme Court filing, the ACLU stated:
“[We are] only asking that this court preserve the status quo so that proposed class members will not be sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador before the American judicial system can afford them due process.”
They’re particularly concerned that these individuals might be deported without enough time for legal review. To prevent this, they asked a U.S. District Judge to block immediate deportation and require a 30-day notice before removal. When that request failed, the ACLU scrambled, filing legal challenges in three different courts within five hours—including appeals to the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans and eventually the U.S. Supreme Court.
According to court documents submitted by the ACLU, migrants detained in Texas received a notice stating they had been identified as members of Tren de Aragua. These notices came under the Alien Enemies Act and not under normal immigration laws.
The document reads:
“You have been determined to be … a member of Tren de Aragua. You have been determined to be an alien enemy subject to apprehension, restraint, and removal from the United States.”
The distinction matters—using the Alien Enemies Act bypasses typical immigration protections and treats these individuals as foreign threats to national security.
According to the New York Times, more than 50 Venezuelans held in a detention center in Anson, Texas, were slated to be deported before the Supreme Court’s ruling brought the process to a grinding halt.
Back in March 2025, President Trump made headlines by invoking the Alien Enemies Act to fast-track the deportation of illegal Venezuelan migrants believed to be connected to gangs like TdA. This marked a significant moment in his broader campaign to crack down on violent crime pouring across the southern border.
And earlier this year, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of lifting a lower court block on those deportations, giving the Trump administration a green light—until this new temporary stay.
At this point, the Supreme Court hasn’t ruled against the administration—it’s simply said, “Hold on.” The Trump administration can still argue its case and, if successful, proceed with the removals. But for now, legal delays are giving the ACLU time to keep these suspected gang members on U.S. soil, despite strong evidence and national security concerns.
This situation is a textbook example of activist legal groups using the court system to slow down or stop enforcement of immigration laws, even when the President has both the authority and the mandate to protect American citizens.
Stay tuned—this case could determine whether our government can act decisively against foreign criminal elements or be bogged down in red tape and courtroom drama.
These illegals in our country do not deserve due process. They are not citizens. Other countries have strong border policies and strong punishment for people crossing their borders illegally.. Get these illegals out of the US immediately!