Trump Administration Seeks Supreme Court Review on Venezuelan Deportation Case
The Trump administration has escalated its legal battle over immigration policy by requesting the Supreme Court to review a restraining order that blocks the deportation of Venezuelan nationals under an 18th-century law.
In a move to challenge a recent court decision, the Trump administration has filed a petition with the Supreme Court to review a temporary restraining order that halts the use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act for deporting Venezuelan nationals, including alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang. This request follows a 2-1 decision by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld a lower court’s ruling to pause the administration’s deportation efforts for 14 days, allowing time for further judicial review.
Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris, representing the administration, argued in the Supreme Court filing that the lower court’s orders are ‘flawed’ and pose a threat to sensitive foreign negotiations. The administration is seeking at least an administrative stay from the Supreme Court to continue deportations while the case is under consideration.
The appeals court’s majority opinion, penned by Judges Karen Henderson and Patricia Millett, emphasized concerns over due process and the potential irreparable harm to the plaintiffs if deported. They argued that allowing the deportations could result in the plaintiffs being exiled to a country not of their origin, effectively mooting their legal claims.
The Trump administration’s filing also criticized the increasing use of temporary restraining orders and injunctions against executive policies, describing it as a ‘rule-by-TRO’ pattern that jeopardizes the executive branch’s functions. Since the beginning of the administration, over 40 such legal actions have been issued against it.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned the lower court decisions as an ‘unauthorized infringement’ on presidential authority, and the administration vowed to seek Supreme Court review to defend the president’s powers and ensure national safety.