Supreme Court rules administration must give Venezuelans more time to challenge deportation under Alien Enemies Act

Venezuelan men held in Texas had urged the court to prevent the government from sending them to a prison in El Salvador before they could challenge the move in court.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Friday dealt a blow against the Trump administration's attempt to send Venezuelans it says are gang members to a notorious prison in El Salvador, saying the detainees must have a proper chance to raise legal objections.

The 7-2 decision, which grants a request from a group of Venezuelans, clarified an unusual order issued by the justices in the early hours of April 19 that hit pause on any government plans to deport people held in northern Texas.

The justices in the latest unsigned decision faulted the administration for giving the detainees only 24 hours to launch legal challenges.

"Under these circumstances, notice roughly 24 hours before removal, devoid of information about how to exercise due process rights to contest that removal, surely does not pass muster," the ruling said.

But the court concluded that the justices themselves, "far removed from the circumstances on the ground," are not best placed to determine exactly what process should be followed.