Supreme Court blocks new deportations of Venezuelans in Texas under 18th century Alien Enemies Act

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The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling early Saturday morning blocking, at least for now, the deportations of any Venezuelans held in northern Texas under an 18th century wartime law.

The justices instructed the Trump administration not to remove Venezuelans held in Texas' Bluebonnet Detention Center "until further order of this court."

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the majority opinion.

Later on Saturday, Trump administration lawyers later filed an opposition to the request to block the deportations, noting the government provided advance notice to detainees prior to removals, and they had adequate time to file habeas claims.

"The government has agreed not to remove, pursuant the AEA, those AEA detainees who do file habeas claims (including the putative class representatives)," according to the filing. "This Court should dissolve its current administrative stay and allow the lower courts to address the relevant legal and factual questions in the first instance — including the development of a proper factual record."

At a minimum, attorneys argued the court should limit the administrative stay to removals.

ACLU APPEALS TO SUPREME COURT TO STOP VENEZUELAN DEPORTATIONS; BOASBERG HOLDS EMERGENCY HEARING FRIDAY NIGHT

Venezuelan migrants repatriated from the U.S. gesture seen upon arrival at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela, on April 4, 2025.  (JUAN BARRETO/AFP via Getty Images)

The court's ruling comes after an emergency appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union arguing that federal immigration authorities appeared to be working to resume the removal of migrants from the U.S. under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. 

SCOTUS has previously said that the Trump administration could conduct deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, as long as the suspected illegal immigrants are given due process to challenge their removal from the U.S.

In its request for an injunction, the ACLU reportedly argued that the government's notice "does not remotely comply with the Supreme Court's order," according to NPR. The organization also reportedly said that "at a minimum" the notice needed to be translated so those being notified could understand.

The Supreme Court urged the government to file a response to the ACLU's application "as soon as possible."

Two federal judges earlier declined to step in and the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has not made any decision.

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A Venezuelan migrant repatriated from the U.S. walks upon arrival at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela, on April 4, 2025.  (JUAN BARRETO/AFP via Getty Images)

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The Alien Enemies Act has only been invoked three previous times in U.S. history, with the most recent being during World War II to hold Japanese-American civilians in internment camps.

The Trump administration claims the act gave them the authority to swiftly remove immigrants they accuse of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang, regardless of their immigration status.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.