President Donald Trump’s ambitious immigration agenda is causing a dramatic shakeup among justices on the United States Supreme Court.
The high court’s conservative justices are split over Trump’s deportations.
In a shocking rebuke of Trump, the Supreme Court issued a ruling just after midnight Saturday.
The ruling blocks the president from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport illegal alien gang members detained in northern Texas.
Only two justices, neither of them appointed by Trump himself, voiced concern about the court’s move.
In a fiery dissent, Samuel Alito, joined by Clarence Thomas, said the court issued a hasty and premature ruling without clear jurisdiction.
“When this Court rushed to enter its order, the Court of Appeals was considering the issue of emergency relief, and we were informed that a decision would be forthcoming,” Alito wrote.
“This Court, however, refused to wait.”
Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to swiftly deport dangerous gang members has led to a dramatic standoff between the judiciary and the executive branch.
The president’s critics, including the Democrat-aligned activist federal judges blocking his moves, have accused Trump of ignoring court rulings and suspending due process.
Meanwhile, Trump and his supporters say activist judges are