The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily stopped the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants held at the Bluebonnet Detention Center in northern Texas. The decision blocks the Trump administration from using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act until further notice. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented.
ACLU Raises Due Process Concerns
The emergency order followed a legal challenge from the ACLU, which argued that detainees were being denied the chance to contest their deportations. ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt said the individuals faced being sent to dangerous prisons abroad without a fair hearing. Some lawyers reported their clients were told to sign deportation papers they couldn’t read and were threatened with removal even without signatures.
Alien Enemies Act Rarely Used
The law, passed in the 18th century, has only been invoked a few times in U.S. history. The Trump administration argues it grants power to deport suspected gang members like those allegedly tied to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court ruled that anyone removed under the act must be given time to make a case in court.
Gaps in Legal Protection
While courts in Colorado, New York, and southern Texas had issued orders protecting detainees, no such ruling had been made in the region covering Bluebonnet. Judge James Wesley Hendrix refused to block deportations there, believing ICE would delay removal. But the ACLU submitted evidence showing detainees were being loaded onto buses Friday evening, suggesting removals were imminent.
Jurisdictional Hurdles
Judge James E. Boasberg in Washington, D.C., who had blocked deportations earlier this year, said Friday he could no longer intervene because the immigrants weren’t held in his jurisdiction. He expressed concern but said he lacked authority.
Next Steps
The Justice Department claims detainees have at least 24 hours to challenge their removal. However, the ACLU remains skeptical, pointing to rushed deportation efforts. Some Venezuelans have already been sent to El Salvador’s most notorious prison. The administration is expected to ask the Supreme Court to lift the stay soon. For now, deportations remain paused as legal battles continue.
Keep up with this development with us on Que Onda Magazine.