The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday upheld a lower court’s decision to block the Trump administration’s efforts to deport a group of migrants from Northern Texas under a rarely used wartime statute, the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. This law, originally intended to manage national security threats during times of war, has sparked widespread controversy after the administration applied it to alleged gang members without affording them standard due process protections.
The court’s unsigned order did not provide a final ruling on the legality of using the Alien Enemies Act for such deportations but determined that, at this stage, the migrants’ legal rights had been violated. The justices emphasized that those targeted for removal had not been given sufficient notice or a meaningful opportunity to contest their deportations.
In their statement, the court highlighted the “particularly weighty” interests of the detainees, noting the severe risk they could face if returned to El Salvador. Many would likely be transferred to Tecoluca Prison, a high-security facility notorious for overcrowding, violence, and indefinite detentions without trial. Human rights organizations have described the prison as a “legal black hole” where detainees are often held under inhumane conditions.
The Trump administration had argued that the use of the Alien Enemies Act was justified in light of national security concerns and rising gang violence. Officials claimed that the targeted individuals had known affiliations with transnational criminal organizations such as MS-13 and Barrio 18, and that their continued presence in the U.S. posed a serious threat to public safety.
However, civil liberties advocates and immigration lawyers strongly pushed back, accusing the administration of racial profiling and circumventing constitutional safeguards. “This is a clear attempt to strip vulnerable migrants of their rights under the pretext of national security,” said Maria Gonzalez, an attorney with the Texas Immigration Justice Center. “Many of these individuals have lived in the U.S. for years, some even with family members who are citizens.”
Friday’s ruling is being hailed as a temporary victory by immigration rights groups, who argue the broader implications of the Trump administration’s tactics could undermine the legal protections guaranteed to all individuals on U.S. soil—regardless of immigration status.
Meanwhile, protests have continued across the country, including outside the Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the United Nations, where demonstrators denounced the deportation orders as unjust and dangerous.
The Supreme Court’s decision sends the case back to the lower courts, where legal battles over the interpretation of the Alien Enemies Act are expected to intensify. Legal experts say the outcome could have far-reaching consequences for future immigration enforcement and wartime executive powers.
As the 2026 election cycle begins to gain momentum, immigration policy and presidential authority over national security are poised to become central campaign issues once again.