Trump can deport foreign gangsters: Supreme Court rules!

Trump can deport foreign gangsters: Supreme Court rules!

On April 8, 2025, the US Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump can again deport suspected foreign cartel members under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. This decision overturns the ruling of Judge James E. Boasberg, who had previously blocked the deportations because he did not see sufficient legal basis for them. By a narrow 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court decided that the plaintiffs should sue in Texas instead of Washington D.C.

The possibility that migrants will be able to refile their cases in Texas remains open. In this context, Trump recently deported over 200 Venezuelans to El Salvador and identified the group as members of the criminal organization Tren de Aragua, which is said to be involved in drug trafficking and human trafficking. Trump called Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization and argued that the gang was carrying out hostile acts against the United States.

Legal framework

The Alien Enemies Act allows the president to deport people from enemy nations in times of war without regular procedure. This law was historically used during the world wars, and the Trump administration sees its application as a need to strengthen the rule of law. Major voices in the US government, such as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Vice President JD Vance, expressed delight at the Supreme Court's ruling and emphasized the need for strict immigration policies.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh made it clear that the justices agreed on the issue of judicial review for migrants, while opinions differed on the venue. The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Judge Boasberg's order is viewed as part of a broader discussion about the limits of immigration laws in the United States.

Historical Context of Immigration Laws

To better understand the background to the current legal situation, it is important to look at the history of immigration laws in the USA. In the 18th and 19th centuries there was a largely open immigration policy. Legal regulations were minimal, and naturalization was essentially reserved for whites. The Naturalization Act of 1790 allowed only certain groups to become naturalized, and other laws were added later that increased the requirements.

Over time, these regulations became more stringent, and various laws regulated immigration and naturalization more intensively, especially after the large waves of immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The United States Constitution grants Congress the right to adopt a uniform naturalization law. These historical developments form the legal framework on which the current deportation measures are based today.

The Supreme Court's decision was hailed as a significant moment for the Trump administration, which has faced frequent challenges to its immigration policies in the past. Given the complexity and political situation, it remains to be seen how migrants and human rights organizations will react to the current decision. However, one thing is certain: the debate about immigration and national security will continue into the future.