President Donald Trump’s administration has requested the Supreme Court’s permission to deport nearly 200 Venezuelan migrants detained in Texas. The solicitor general called the migrants “especially dangerous to maintain,” citing their alleged involvement with the Tren de Aragua group. The administration is seeking to lift the injunction that temporarily blocked the deportation of the migrants under the Alien Enemies Act.
The filing on Monday stated that the 176 migrants have posed a significant threat while in detention. An official for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported that a group of 23 migrants had engaged in misconduct, including threatening to take hostages and harm facility staff and officers. This behavior led to their relocation from the Bluebonnet Detention Facility to the Prairieland Detention Center for security reasons.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer emphasized the need for prompt removal of detainees who have endangered others during their time in detention. He argued that the migrants have been given adequate notice and the opportunity to pursue habeas petitions. Sauer urged the court to modify the temporary block on removal to clarify that it only applies to the class members under the Alien Enemies Act. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of pursuing removal under other authorities due to the challenges of detaining the migrants under the current circumstances.
