Andry Hernandez Romero, a Venezuelan makeup artist with a passion for theater stemming from his childhood participation in a Three Kings Day festival, was deported to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act due to crown tattoos misinterpreted as gang affiliation. His deportation, without a hearing, is now a Supreme Court case highlighting concerns about due process and the Trump administration’s actions. Experts dispute the connection between the tattoos and gang membership, emphasizing their popularity as a fashion trend. Hernandez’s family and lawyers are fighting for his return, facing the significant obstacle of the Trump administration’s refusal to acknowledge the mistake.
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Despite legal constraints, including the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment and the logistical challenges posed by U.S. Code 3621, Trump suggested expanding deportation beyond those who enter the country illegally. Deporting incarcerated U.S. citizens presents significant legal hurdles due to the need for court appearances and adherence to U.S. prison standards, which are not met in countries like El Salvador. The potential for human rights violations in countries like El Salvador further complicates such deportations.
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The Supreme Court temporarily allowed the Trump administration to utilize the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite the deportation of alleged gang members, overturning a lower court’s injunction. This decision permits the use of the wartime authority while ongoing legal challenges proceed, but mandates that affected migrants receive adequate notice and an opportunity to contest their removal. While three liberal justices dissented, and Justice Barrett partially dissented, the Court emphasized the need for due process in deportation proceedings under the Act. The ruling effectively sides with the Trump administration’s argument regarding judicial authority and the urgency of the situation.
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Visa records of CMU international students being terminated without notice is deeply concerning. The lack of transparency and due process involved raises serious questions about the fairness and legality of these actions. The sheer scale of the issue, potentially affecting thousands of students at various universities across the country, highlights a systemic problem impacting not only individual students but also the broader academic landscape.
The financial implications for both students and institutions are staggering. Students are investing significant sums of money – upwards of $68,000 annually for tuition and living expenses – only to have their educational journeys abruptly and unfairly cut short.… Continue reading
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a protected Maryland resident mistakenly deported to a dangerous El Salvadoran prison, to the United States. The Department of Justice appealed, arguing a lack of authority to compel El Salvador’s cooperation, but the judge rejected this claim, stating the U.S. cannot outsource its prison system and then claim inability to act. The judge deemed the deportation an illegal act resulting from the administration’s use of an 18th-century law for mass deportations without due process. Garcia’s deportation was described as an “administrative error,” yet the government’s refusal to disclose his current status and the dangers he faces fueled the judge’s decision.
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The Justice Department appealed a court order mandating the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national mistakenly deported to El Salvador despite a prior ruling granting him protection from deportation. The government argues the order to compel action from a foreign sovereign is unconstitutional, and it suspended the attorney who admitted the deportation was an error. The appeals court requested a response from Abrego Garcia’s lawyers. The White House maintains Abrego Garcia is an MS-13 gang member, a claim his lawyers deny. Abrego Garcia’s deportation has raised concerns about the handling of non-citizens granted permission to remain in the U.S.
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Evenezer Cortez-Martinez, a 39-year-old DACA recipient, was deported to Mexico City after a brief trip to visit his grandfather’s grave. Despite possessing Advance Parole, allowing for temporary travel outside the U.S., he was detained upon his return and deported based on an allegedly erroneous removal order issued in June 2024, of which he was unaware. A lawsuit has been filed against the Department of Homeland Security and CBP, arguing his deportation violated DACA regulations and his right to a formal removal hearing. The lawsuit contends that Cortez-Martinez’s deportation is an anomaly and sets a concerning precedent for other DACA recipients.
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The Trump administration is employing new tactics to deport international students, alarming college leaders. Students are being ordered to leave the country immediately, often without clear justification, and their legal residency is being terminated, a departure from past practices. This crackdown, impacting students across numerous universities, targets some for political activism or minor infractions, while others face deportation without explanation. The federal government is bypassing colleges in this process, creating uncertainty and potentially chilling future international student enrollment.
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A Boston judge held an ICE agent in contempt for detaining a trial defendant, Wilson Martell-Lebron, outside the courthouse. The judge argued the detention violated Martell-Lebron’s due process rights, leading to the dismissal of charges against him and the contempt citation against the ICE agent, Brian Sullivan. The incident sparked controversy, with Martell-Lebron’s lawyer calling the actions “reprehensible” and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office expressing dismay. The case has been referred for potential further charges and highlights ongoing tensions between local authorities and ICE regarding immigration enforcement in courthouses.
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Vice President Vance defended the Trump administration’s erroneous deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man with protected status, to El Salvador’s “Terrorism Confinement Center.” Vance argued that concern over the deportation should be secondary to the crimes committed by gang members against U.S. citizens. The administration, while admitting the mistake, contends that U.S. courts lack jurisdiction to intervene. Abrego Garcia’s deportation stemmed from a March 15th operation targeting alleged gang members, with the administration asserting that those deported were the “worst of the worst,” despite criticism of their methods for identifying gang affiliations. The administration maintains that Abrego Garcia’s past allegations of MS-13 involvement negate his protected status, though he was never convicted.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood