Claim by the White House:
The Supreme Court ruling made it “very clear” that Trump was “well within his constitutional authority” to carry out deportations under the Alien Enemies Act.
What the Supreme Court actually ruled:
– No Ruling on Constitutionality (5–4 decision):
The Court did not rule on whether the Trump administration’s actions were constitutional. Instead, it ruled that the lawsuit brought by the detained immigrants was filed in the wrong jurisdiction (Washington, D.C.) when it should have been filed in Texas, where the detainees were being held.
– Unanimous Ruling on Due Process (9–0 decision):
The Court ruled that detainees must be given a chance to challenge their deportations, even under the Alien Enemies Act. This safeguards some level of due process, which runs counter to the idea that the administration has unchecked authority.
Conclusion:
The Supreme Court’s decision was procedural, not a substantive endorsement of the Trump administration’s use of wartime powers. The White House’s statement overstates the ruling and wrongly implies a constitutional green light. In reality, the ruling left open the door for legal challenges — just in the correct jurisdiction.
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