The Supreme Court just slammed the brakes on the Trump administration’s plan to fast-track deportations of Venezuelans, citing a lack of due process.
Newsmax reported that on Friday, the court rejected an appeal to resume rapid removals under the dusty Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Turns out, even in a crisis, constitutional rights still matter.
The ruling came after the administration tried to deport Venezuelan men labeled as gang members, claiming they posed an immediate threat. The court’s decision, sparked by an emergency appeal from the men’s lawyers, keeps deportations on ice while the Fifth Circuit hashes out what “due process” actually means here.
Last month, in a dramatic April 2025 order, the Supreme Court issued a midnight halt to deportations from a north Texas detention facility.
That temporary block set the stage for Friday’s ruling, which doubled down on protecting procedural rights. The administration’s push for speed clearly hit a constitutional speed bump.
The Supreme Court’s unsigned opinion didn’t mince words: “Notice roughly 24 hours before removal, devoid of information about how to exercise due process rights, surely does not pass muster.” This zinger exposes the administration’s plan as a hasty overreach. You can’t just round people up and expect the Constitution to nod along.
President Trump, predictably, wasn’t thrilled, lamenting that the court’s ruling forces a “long, protracted, and expensive Legal Process” for deportations.
He warned that this decision will “let more CRIMINALS pour into our Country, doing great harm to our cherished American public.” Strong words, but the court seems more concerned with legal precision than political rhetoric.
Trump doubled down, claiming the ruling undermines his mandate: “The Supreme Court of the United States is not allowing me to do what I was elected to do.” He’s got a point—voters backed his tough-on-crime stance—but the judiciary’s job isn’t to rubber-stamp campaign promises. Checks and balances, anyone?
The court’s decision wasn’t unanimous, with Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissenting. Their votes signal sympathy for the administration’s argument that gang-affiliated migrants pose a unique threat. But the majority clearly saw this as a step too far without proper legal guardrails.
The case now heads back to the Fifth Circuit, tasked with defining the “precise process necessary to satisfy the Constitution,” per the court’s unsigned opinion.
This remand kicks the can down the road, leaving Venezuelans in limbo and the administration frustrated. It’s a judicial punt that promises more legal wrangling.
Trump’s second quote paints a dire picture: “Sleepy Joe Biden allowed MILLIONS of Criminal Aliens to come into our Country without any ‘PROCESS’ but, in order to get them out, we have to go through a long and extended PROCESS.” The irony stings—entry may be chaotic, but exit requires paperwork. Welcome to government.
The Supreme Court’s ruling underscores a timeless truth: even the most urgent policies must pass constitutional muster. The Alien Enemies Act, a relic from 1798, might sound like a silver bullet, but it can’t override due process. History’s old laws don’t get a free pass in modern courts.
For the Venezuelan men at the heart of this case, the ruling buys time to contest their gang member labels. The administration’s evidence for those designations remains murky, and the court’s insistence on clarity is a win for fairness. Accusations aren’t convictions, after all.
Trump’s frustration is palpable, as he thanked Alito and Thomas for “attempting to protect our Country.” He sees this as a “bad and dangerous day for America,” but the court’s job isn’t to cheerlead—it’s to uphold the law. Emotional appeals don’t rewrite the Constitution.
The Fifth Circuit now faces the daunting task of crafting a deportation process that’s both constitutional and practical. Good luck balancing that tightrope while political pressures loom large. The outcome will likely shape immigration enforcement for years.
For now, the Trump administration must regroup and wait for the Fifth Circuit’s next move. Rapid deportations are off the table, and the legal slog continues. Actions have consequences, and sometimes, so does impatience.