The US Supreme Court on Friday paused President Donald Trump’s attempt to carry out deportations using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, siding with a group of Venezuelan immigrants in Texas who argued they were at risk of sudden removal under the rarely used wartime law.

The ruling is a temporary setback for Trump, who has pushed to use the centuries-old statute to bypass standard legal proceedings and fast-track deportations. The case will now return to an appeals court to determine whether the president’s actions were lawful—and what level of legal notice those targeted are entitled to receive.

While the court did not rule on the broader legality of Trump’s move, the decision signals judicial caution over invoking emergency powers to remove migrants without due process.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented, indicating disagreement among the court’s conservative bloc as legal battles over the policy continue in lower courts nationwide.

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