US Supreme Court’s action prompts sharp dissent from its three liberal justices
The United States Supreme Court has granted the Trump administration’s request to lift a judicial order that previously blocked the deportation of migrants to countries that are not their own — even if those migrants haven’t had the chance to present claims of possible harm, torture, or persecution.
The unsigned, brief order issued Monday allows the administration to resume “third-country” deportations, marking a major legal win for Trump’s aggressive immigration agenda. The decision overrules an April 18 injunction issued by US District Judge Brian Murphy in Boston, which had required the government to provide migrants with a “meaningful opportunity” to assert fear-based claims before being deported.
The court’s conservative majority, in a 6-3 decision, sided with the administration without providing a detailed rationale. However, the three liberal justices, led by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, issued a scathing dissent.
Sotomayor denounced the ruling as “a gross abuse of power,” saying the court’s action could expose thousands of people to violence in politically unstable nations. “Apparently, the court finds the idea that thousands will suffer violence in far-flung locales more palatable than the remote possibility that a district court exceeded its remedial powers,” she wrote.
Judge Murphy had initially ruled that the policy — which fast-tracks deportations to third countries without prior notice or legal hearings — likely violated the due process rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. That ruling followed a class-action lawsuit filed by immigrant rights advocates after the Department of Homeland Security moved to expand third-country deportations earlier this year.
The administration defended its policy, arguing it already met due process requirements and was essential to remove criminal migrants whose home countries refused repatriation. DHS said the migrants in question had committed serious crimes including murder and arson.
Following the ruling, a White House spokesperson praised the decision, saying it reaffirmed the president’s authority to remove criminal undocumented immigrants and “Make America Safe Again.” Homeland Security officials vowed to escalate deportation operations immediately.
Meanwhile, advocacy groups expressed alarm over the humanitarian implications. Trina Realmuto, director of the National Immigration Litigation Alliance, called the ruling “horrifying” and a rollback of protections that could lead to torture or death for affected individuals.
Although the Supreme Court ruling lifts broader protections, Judge Murphy clarified that his specific order blocking the deportation of eight South Sudanese men remains in effect — at least for now.
Justice Sotomayor also cited the administration’s apparent defiance of multiple court orders, including unauthorized deportations to South Sudan, Guantanamo Bay, and El Salvador, as signs of disrespect for judicial oversight.
“This is not the first time the court closes its eyes to noncompliance, nor, I fear, will it be the last,” she warned in her dissent. “Each time this court rewards noncompliance, it further erodes respect for the rule of law.”
The ruling is the latest in a series of legal confrontations over President Trump’s hardline immigration policies since his return to office. Just last month, the court allowed his administration to end temporary protected status for hundreds of thousands of migrants.
Legal experts expect further challenges as the administration considers controversial deportation destinations, including Libya — a country previously condemned by the U.S. for human rights abuses.
