Supreme Court halts Trump’s deportation of Venezuelans under 1798 law, citing due process concerns.

The United States Supreme Court on Saturday halted the Trump administration's deportation of Venezuelan migrants from Texas, which had been initiated under an obscure law dating back to 1798.

The ruling came even as reports indicated that some of the migrants had already been placed on buses headed to the airport.

Last month, President Donald Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act (AEA) as justification for the roundup and deportation of Venezuelan migrants, whom he accused of “perpetrating an invasion” as alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang.

“The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court,” the justices stated in a brief, unsigned order.

Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito publicly dissented from the decision.

The ruling followed urgent legal action filed Friday by attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who petitioned several courts, including the Supreme Court, calling for immediate intervention.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had already affirmed that individuals facing deportation under the AEA must be given the opportunity to challenge their removal through legal channels. This latest ruling reinforces that position and allows the men in custody to seek legal recourse.

In its emergency filing Friday night, the ACLU reported that Venezuelan migrants held at the Bluebonnet Detention Center, located north of Abilene, Texas, had been told they were to be imminently deported under the AEA, possibly that same evening.

In March, the Trump administration began deporting alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang under the AEA, despite a court order from federal judge James Boasberg that directed a halt to such actions.

Although the Supreme Court lifted that order on April 7, it simultaneously ruled that those facing deportation are entitled to due process, including sufficient time to file legal challenges.

President Trump and senior officials in his administration argue that their executive powers give them broad authority in interpreting and applying immigration laws. This stance has raised concerns about potential conflicts with the constitutional principle of separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

A continued refusal by the administration to comply with judicial rulings could lead to a constitutional crisis.

When asked about the planned deportations from Texas on Friday, Trump said he was unaware of the specific case but added, “If they’re bad people, I would certainly authorize it.”

“That’s why I was elected. A judge wasn’t elected,” he told reporters at the White House.