Explained: US Supreme Court Halts Deportations Under Alien Enemies Act — What Happens Next?

The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting a group of Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century wartime law.

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Here's an explainer on what this means and what might happen next:

WHAT IS THE ALIEN ENEMIES ACT?

The Alien Enemies Act is part of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, allowing the president to detain or deport non-citizens from hostile nations during times of war or national emergency.

President Donald Trump invoked the law to deport migrants, citing national security concerns, particularly linking detainees to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, the US media reported.

HOW DID THE SUPREME COURT INTERVENE?

In a rare overnight order early Saturday, the Supreme Court blocked the administration from deporting a group of Venezuelan migrants detained in Texas.

According to CNN, the court stated, "The government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this court."

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito reportedly dissented, but the court did not elaborate on its reasoning.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?