Supreme Court Just Signaled It May ‘Go Toe to Toe’ With Trump—Legal Analyst

Early Saturday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered President Donald Trump’s administration to halt the deportation of Venezuelan detainees under the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) of 1798 until further notice. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented. Legal analyst Mark Joseph Stern noted this as a significant challenge to presidential power and a possible signal that the Court is ready to confront Trump on AEA deportations. Newsweek has reached out to the White House for comment. The ruling is important given the ongoing immigration crackdown under Trump, with thousands detained and deported. Lawsuits against the administration over the issue are pending, making the courts a key venue for challenging Trump’s policies. The ruling is notable as it comes from a conservative-majority Court, appointed during Trump’s presidency. The ACLU had filed an urgent request to the Supreme Court after reports of imminent deportations. The Court’s previous ruling allowed for deportations under the AEA with judicial review. The Trump administration’s handling of deportations, such as the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, has faced scrutiny and legal challenges. The next steps in the legal battle will depend on the administration’s response to the Court’s order.