The Supreme Court’s ruling hit like a shockwave — a 6–3 decision that handed the Trump administration a powerful win in its push to accelerate deportations to third countries. Overnight, the legal safeguards that had paused these removals were swept aside, allowing the administration to move forward with one of its most aggressive immigration strategies yet. Migrants who had previously been protected by a lower court injunction now face immediate transfers to nations they may have never set foot in — places like South Sudan, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and others the administration has considered for relocation. For families, advocates, and legal teams, the ruling felt like the floor had dropped beneath them.
Judge Brian Murphy’s earlier order had simply required due process: keep migrants in custody long enough for a “reasonable fear interview,” giving them a chance to explain the dangers they might face if deported. But administration officials pushed back hard, arguing that the injunction was shielding what they called “the worst of the worst illegal aliens.” The Supreme Court’s decision now allows deportations to resume without those protections, sparking immediate outrage. Trina Realmuto, head of the legal group defending the migrants, warned that the consequences could be “horrifying,” stripping away safeguards that have prevented torture and death. As officials celebrated and critics raised the alarm, one thing became clear: the ruling will shape the future of immigration enforcement — and the lives of the people caught in its path.