The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a stay that lets President Donald Trump's administration continue deporting migrants to third countries, after an appeals court ruling had halted a flight carrying about 70 people.
The decision comes after a series of secret agreements that have seen roughly 25,000 U.S. residents sent to more than two dozen nations—most to Mexico, but also to Liberia, Guyana, and others—when the U.S. cannot return them to their homeland.
Federal attorneys said the lower‑court ruling forced the cancellation of the flight, leaving a mix of asylum seekers and individuals with criminal convictions stranded in transit centers, amid claims that some would face persecution if returned.
The justices will hear arguments on whether migrants must have a meaningful chance to object before being sent to a country where they have no ties, a question that could reshape the administration’s deportation strategy.
Trump’s administration has defended the policy as essential to curbing illegal immigration, while the Biden administration has signaled it will file a challenge and push for stricter safeguards for vulnerable migrants.