Trump Administration Seeks Supreme Court Review in Venezuelan Deportations Case

The Trump administration has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a restraining order blocking its use of the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan nationals, including alleged gang members of Tren de Aragua. The request comes as lower courts have repeatedly stalled key parts of Trump's immigration agenda, sparking a legal showdown over the controversial law.

In its Supreme Court filing, the administration argued that the lower court’s decisions are obstructing efforts to protect the nation from foreign threats and complicating delicate negotiations with other countries. Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris warned of "serious and irreparable harm" if the restraining orders are not lifted promptly.

The case centers on the Trump administration's attempt to use the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans quickly. Earlier this week, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's decision to temporarily block the policy, citing concerns over due process violations. The appeals court majority, led by judges Karen Henderson and Patricia Millett, argued that the immediate deportations risked sending plaintiffs to countries that aren’t their own, potentially leaving them stranded beyond the reach of legal counsel.

The administration now seeks either a full Supreme Court review or an administrative stay to resume deportations while the case is under consideration. However, critics say this approach prioritizes expediency over constitutional rights. Henderson pointed out that the lower court's restraining orders were issued to "protect its remedial authority long enough to consider the parties’ arguments"—a pretty fair point, if you ask me.

Meanwhile, Trump’s team isn’t holding back its frustration with what they called a "rule-by-TRO" pattern. The filing highlighted over 40 injunctions issued against the Executive Branch since January, claiming such rulings are undermining basic government functions. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the decisions as an "unauthorized infringement" on the president’s authority, vowing swift action to defend Trump's constitutional powers.

Whether the Supreme Court will grant the administration’s request remains unclear, but one thing is certain: the legal battle over immigration policies continues to be a defining feature of Trump’s presidency.