The United States Supreme Court has temporarily cleared the way for the administration of President Donald Trump to resume deporting migrants to countries other than their own, as a major legal battle over the policy continues.
In a decision issued on Tuesday, September 29, the Supreme Court granted the Trump administration’s emergency request to put on hold a lower-court ruling that had restricted the so-called “third-country” deportations. The decision allows the removals to continue while the Supreme Court considers the legality of the policy.
The policy allows U.S. authorities to deport some migrants to countries with which they may have no direct connection, rather than returning them to their countries of nationality.
The Trump administration has described the policy as an important immigration-enforcement tool, while lawyers representing migrants have challenged the practice, arguing that people should have an opportunity to raise concerns about possible persecution, torture or other harm before being sent to a third country.
According to Reuters, more than 25,000 migrants have been deported to 29 countries under the policy since it was implemented, based on a tally from human-rights groups. Destinations have included Mexico, Uganda, Liberia, Equatorial Guinea and the Central African Republic.
The decision does not represent a final ruling that the policy is lawful. The Supreme Court has scheduled arguments for December, when the justices are expected to consider the broader legal dispute.
Three justices — Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson — would have left the lower-court restrictions in place, according to the Supreme Court’s order.
The development comes shortly after more than a dozen United Nations human-rights experts urged the U.S. government to halt third-country deportations, warning that some migrants could face serious risks including persecution and torture. The Trump administration, however, has maintained that the arrangements are lawful and consistent with U.S. immigration procedures.
For now, the Supreme Court’s order means the Trump administration can continue using the policy while the justices prepare to hear the case. The eventual ruling could determine whether third-country deportations remain a major part of the administration’s immigration strategy.
Source: Reuters, Associated Press
