President Donald Trump shakes hands with Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito after Mark Esper was sworn in as Secretary of Defense during a ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, July 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Justice Samuel Alito criticized the U.S. Supreme Court’s emergency decision to halt the deportation of a group of Venezuelan migrants, calling the ruling “hasty and premature” in a dissent released Saturday night.
The high court issued a temporary order early Saturday blocking the Trump administration from deporting the migrants under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The American Civil Liberties Union argued the individuals faced removal without a proper legal review.
Alito, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, said the court acted “without explanation,” and bypassed normal procedures, issuing relief just hours after receiving the request.
The administration has not signaled any intent to defy the court order. It previously deported more than 200 men it identified as gang members, though attorneys dispute those claims.
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