The US Supreme Court on Monday lifted a lower court order barring the deportation of undocumented migrants using an obscure wartime law, in a victory for the United States President Donald Trump's administration.
The nation's apex court also said that migrants subject to deportation under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act must be given an opportunity to legally challenge their removal.
The 5-4 Supreme Court decision will allow the Trump administration to now resume deportations that have been blocked by a district court judge in the past.
Trump had invoked the AEA, which has only previously been used during wartime, to justify rounding up alleged Venezuelan gang members and summarily deporting them to a maximum security prison in El Salvador.
However, reacting to the Supreme Court's ruling, Trump in a post on his Truth Social media account, expressed happiness.
He wrote: “The Supreme Court has upheld the Rule of Law in our Nation by allowing a President, whoever that may be, to be able to secure our Borders, and protect our families and our Country, itself. A GREAT DAY FOR JUSTICE IN AMERICA!”
Recall that District Judge James Boasberg had issued an injunction barring further flights of deportees under the AEA after planeloads of Venezuelan migrants were sent to El Salvador on March 15.
