The US Supreme Court has issued a temporary order halting the deportation of dozens of Venezuelan men in immigration custody, citing they are at imminent risk of removal without judicial review.
The US supreme court has issued a temporary order halting the deportation of dozens of Venezuelan men in immigration custody, citing that they are at imminent risk of removal without judicial review. The decision is the latest example of how the courts are challenging the Trump administration‘s overhaul of the immigration system.
Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) stated that the detained Venezuelan men were given notices indicating they were classified as members of the ‘Tren de Aragua‘ gang, and would be deported under the Alien Enemies Act. The ACLU warned that immigration authorities were accusing other Venezuelan men held in the Bluebonnet detention center in Texas of being part of the same gang, making them subject to deportation.
The organization urged the court to rule before the men could be deported, as they had already been loaded on a bus. A number of these men had been given documents indicating that they were members of ‘Tren de Aragua‘ and would face removal under the Alien Enemies Act.
Deportation is the forced removal of a non-citizen from a country.
It can be initiated by government agencies, such as immigration and customs enforcement, or through court orders.
The process typically involves detention, followed by a hearing to determine if the individual should be deported.
Statistics show that in 2020, over 415,000 people were deported from the United States alone.
Deportation can result in separation of families, loss of property, and long-term psychological trauma.
While some deportations have been allowed under the Alien Enemies Act, the supreme court has previously ruled that those about to be removed must have a chance to argue their case in court and be given a reasonable time to contest their pending removals. Federal judges in Colorado, New York, and southern Texas have also issued orders barring the removal of detainees under the AEA until the administration provides a process for them to make claims in court.
The federal court system in the United States is composed of three main levels: the Supreme Court, the Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the District Courts.
The Supreme Court has nine justices who interpret laws and decide cases that affect the entire nation.
The Circuit Courts of Appeals have 13 circuits with a total of 179 judges who hear appeals from the lower courts.
The District Courts have 94 districts with over 1,000 judges who handle cases involving federal laws.
However, no such order has been issued in the area surrounding Bluebonnet, which is located 24 miles north of the city of Abilene in far northern Texas.
- theguardian.com | US supreme court orders temporary halt to deportations of Venezuelan men
