Supreme Court Blocks Deportations Under Alien Enemies Act

                                                       
       
                                           

· Context: The U.S. Supreme Court has extended a temporary block on the Trump administration’s plan to rapidly deport Venezuelan migrants accused of gang affiliations, under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act (AEA).

· About the Law: The AEA, rarely invoked, allows for the detention or deportation of foreign nationals during wartime or invasion. It was last used during WWII to detain Japanese Americans.

· Legal Issues: The Court ordered that migrants must be notified more than 24 hours in advance of deportation and given due process to challenge it, criticizing the administration for short notice and lack of transparency.

· Controversy: Conservative justices (Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito) dissented, saying the Court was overstepping. Civil rights groups like the ACLU are pushing for an urgent ruling on whether Trump can invoke this law outside of wartime.

2. James Comey Accused of Threatening Trump with '8647' Shell Arrangement

· Incident: Former FBI Director James Comey posted an image on Instagram showing seashells arranged to form the number 8647. In slang, “86” means “eliminate” or “kill,” and Trump is the 47th president (as well as the 45th).

· Political Fallout:

o Trump and his allies (Tulsi Gabbard, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee) accused Comey of inciting assassination.

o The Secret Service and DOJ are reportedly investigating.

o Comey deleted the post, claiming he had no intent to incite violence and wasn’t aware of the phrase’s potential interpretation.

· Legal Challenge: Free speech protections under the First Amendment make it difficult to prosecute unless the message constitutes a “true threat.” Prosecutors would need to prove intent and imminence, which is unclear in this case.

HANH DUONG