Supreme Court lets Trump resume deporting migrants to countries not their own

The US Supreme Court lifted restrictions on President Donald Trump's administration to deport migrants to countries other than their own, without providing them an opportunity to raise concerns about potential harm. The court's decision temporarily halted a lower-court ruling that limited the administration's third-country deportation policy.

The Justices agreed to hear the broader legal challenge in December, meaning the policy's legality remains unresolved for now. Over 25,000 migrants have been deported to 29 countries under this policy, with Mexico being the most common destination. The administration has also deported migrants to several African countries, such as South Sudan, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, and the Central African Republic.

The policy allows removing migrants to third countries that provide assurances they won't face persecution or torture. If not, migrants get notice and an assessment of potential persecution or torture if they raise concerns. The Supreme Court's decision followed a ruling by a federal district judge in Boston, Brian Murphy, who found the Department of Homeland Security's policy unlawful.

The 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals largely upheld Murphy's ruling, stating migrants should have a chance to raise concerns about possible persecution or torture before deportation. The conservative majority on the Supreme Court allowed deportations to continue while the legal dispute continues, with three liberal justices dissenting.

The Department of Homeland Security's General Counsel welcomed the decision, while the migrants' lawyer criticized it, arguing that some migrants could face persecution or torture without adequate notice or the chance to raise their concerns.