ACLU asks Supreme Court to stop Texas deportations to Venezuela
The American Civil Liberties Union recently made an urgent appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking an emergency injunction against the Trump administration’s plans to deport Venezuelan nationals held in Texas back to South America under the seldom-used Alien Enemies Act. This act, dating back to 1798, imposes restrictions on how the government can utilize it, including the requirement for those targeted to receive a hearing before deportation.
Prior to approaching the Supreme Court, the ACLU had requested two federal judges to intervene and halt the deportations. One of these judges, James E. Boasberg, agreed to hold a hearing on the matter on Friday evening. Boasberg, who initially ruled on the Alien Enemies Act, had previously found probable cause that the Trump administration had committed criminal contempt by disregarding his ruling on the deportations.
The Supreme Court subsequently declared that only judges within the jurisdictions from which migrants are set to be deported have the authority to rule on their cases. While judges in Colorado, New York, and south Texas have temporarily paused deportations in their regions, there is currently no such ban in place for the Venezuelan nationals facing potential deportation from the Bluebonnet Detention Center in northern Texas.
The ACLU has specifically called for a deportation moratorium for two Venezuelans detained at the center, arguing that the administration is falsely accusing them of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang, as well as associating them with other immigrants in the area.
President Trump also weighed in on the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who had been residing in Maryland with deportation protections, but was mistakenly deported to a prison in the county last month. Trump took to social media platform Truth Social to share a photo of Garcia’s tattooed knuckles, which allegedly display the markings of the MS-13 gang. Trump criticized Democrats for advocating Garcia’s return to the U.S., despite allegations of gang affiliation and domestic violence.
The ongoing legal battles and controversies surrounding these deportation cases highlight the complexities and challenges within the U.S. immigration system. As the ACLU continues to fight for the rights of these individuals, the Supreme Court’s decision on the emergency injunction will be pivotal in determining the fate of the Venezuelan nationals held in Texas.
