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Trump move to deport Venezuelans violated due process, U.S. Supreme Court rules

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virginiamercury.com – Ariana Figueroa – 2025-05-18 17:35:00


On May 16, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to deport 176 Venezuelans in North Texas under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, citing due process violations. The court ruled that the administration’s short, unclear notice before removal was insufficient. Conservative Justices Alito and Thomas dissented. The court did not decide on the law’s use against those linked to the gang Tren de Aragua but emphasized careful due process, especially since deportees were sent to El Salvador’s notorious prison. The ruling overturned a 5th Circuit dismissal and sent the case back for review. Trump criticized the decision on social media.

by Ariana Figueroa, Virginia Mercury
May 18, 2025

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday kept in place a block on the Trump administration’s efforts to deport 176 Venezuelans in Northern Texas under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

A majority of the justices found that President Donald Trump’s administration violated the due process rights of Venezuelans when the administration tried to deport them from North Texas last month by invoking the 18th-century wartime law. Conservative Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented.

“Under these circumstances, notice roughly 24 hours before removal, devoid of information about how to exercise due process rights to contest that removal, surely does not pass muster,” according to the decision.

The justices did not determine the legality of the Trump administration using the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans 14 and older with suspected ties to the gang Tren de Aragua.

On his social media platform, Trump expressed his disapproval of the ruling.

“THE SUPREME COURT WON’T ALLOW US TO GET CRIMINALS OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!” he wrote on Truth Social.

The justices found that the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals “erred in dismissing the detainees’ appeal for lack of jurisdiction,” and vacated that order, sending the case back.

The Trump administration on Monday asked the high court to remove the injunction, arguing that detaining suspected members of Tren de Aragua poses a threat to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and staff.

In a Wednesday response, the American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the suit, warned that if the Supreme Court lifts its injunction, “most of the putative class members will be removed with little chance to seek judicial review.”

In Friday’s order, the justices noted that because the Trump administration has used the Alien Enemies Act to send migrants to a notorious prison in El Salvador, careful due process is needed.

“The Government has represented elsewhere that it is unable to provide for the return of an individual deported in error to a prison in El Salvador…where it is alleged that detainees face indefinite detention,” according to the order, noting the wrongful deportation of Maryland man Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador.

“The detainees’ interests at stake are accordingly particularly weighty,” the court continued.

Other rulings

On April 18, the ACLU made an emergency application to the high court, asking to bar any removals under the Alien Enemies Act in the Northern District of Texas over concerns that the Trump administration was not following due process.

Several federal judges elsewhere have blocked the use of the wartime law in their districts that cover Colorado, Southern Texas and Southern New York.

A federal judge in Western Pennsylvania Tuesday was the first to uphold the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, but said those accused must have at least three weeks to challenge their removal.

Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com.

The post Trump move to deport Venezuelans violated due process, U.S. Supreme Court rules appeared first on virginiamercury.com



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

The content presents a factual report on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling regarding the Trump administration’s attempt to deport Venezuelans under the Alien Enemies Act. It discusses the legal reasoning, the dissenting justices’ opinions, and the involvement of the ACLU. The article does not show a clear ideological slant, instead focusing on the procedural aspects of the case, the legal interpretations, and the responses from involved parties. While the tone is neutral and the information presented is balanced, the inclusion of Trump’s social media reaction may subtly reflect a slight inclination toward documenting the political climate surrounding the ruling. However, it largely sticks to reporting the legal outcome without pushing an overt political stance.

News from the South - Virginia News Feed

Do you think the Orlando Magic won this trade?

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www.youtube.com – 13News Now – 2025-06-21 10:36:51

SUMMARY: The Orlando Magic clearly won the trade by acquiring a strong backcourt duo of Jaylen Suggs and Desmond Bane. Suggs provides defense, facilitation, and scoring with reliable shooting, while Bane is a potent scorer and shooter who can deliver 25 to 30 points. Though Bane might have fewer touches in Orlando due to the presence of Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, the overall starting lineup ranks among the best in the Eastern Conference. With rivals like the Celtics, Sixers, Pacers, and Cavs facing uncertainty or lacking depth, the Magic’s talent positions them as a competitive force in the East.

Do you think the Orlando Magic won this trade?

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Senate draft of ‘big, beautiful bill’ could cut funds for Virginia hospitals, also affect Medicaid

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virginiamercury.com – Charlotte Rene Woods – 2025-06-20 04:19:00


On June 17, 2025, protesters gathered outside Richmond’s Hippodrome to oppose potential Medicaid cuts under congressional budget proposals. Virginia’s hospitals, closely watching these changes, fear that a new Senate draft could alter key funding mechanisms—provider assessment rates and state-directed payment programs—vital to their operations and Medicaid expansion support. The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association estimates losses up to $2 billion per program, risking hospital stability and patient access, especially in rural areas. Senate Democrats warn cuts could force rural hospital closures, worsening health outcomes. Hospitals are actively engaging lawmakers to mitigate impacts as federal funding shifts amid efforts to reduce deficits and boost defense spending.

by Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury
June 20, 2025

Virginia’s hospitals are monitoring congressional budget proposals with concern. 

While the recently-passed U.S. House of Representatives’ version of the President Donald Trump-backed “big beautiful bill” retained federal mapping that preserves Medicaid access in Virginia, a new draft in the U.S. Senate could alter two critical funding mechanisms that support Virginia’s hospitals and their ability to bolster the state’s expanded Medicaid program. 

The Senate proposal could change provider assessment rates and state-directed payment programs. The two funding mechanisms are critical to hospital operation in Virginia and how they chip into the expansion of Virginia’s Medicaid program.

Ultimately, the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association estimates each program could take a $2 billion hit,  if the proposal is fully implemented. 

“If you are taking policy actions that impact Medicaid, that is going to impact providers’ stability, access to care for patients and could destabilize hospitals or even lead to closures,” said Julian Walker, vice president of communications with the association. 

Federal fallout

As federal funding and systems dwindle, states are left to decide how and
whether to make up the difference.

Read the latest >

Provider assessment rates are essentially a type of tax that hospitals use to help cover the state’s share of Medicaid costs, allowing them to draw down additional federal matching funds. Changing that rate would also change how much money hospitals can tap into for themselves, and to feed into the state’s Medicaid expansion. 

Medicaid is a large federal program that helps states provide health insurance to their low-income or disabled residents. In 2018, when Virginia expanded its Medicaid program to make more people eligible, Virginia’s hospitals footed some of the bill for it. Walker emphasized that the two funding tracks the Senate bill is exploring are interconnected when it comes to supporting hospitals and Medicaid in Virginia. 

More than the potential for people to lose their health insurance,  Democratic U.S. Senate leadership has stressed how rural hospitals could suffer. 

“Enacting these drastic health care cuts that will kick millions of people off their health insurance coverage, rural hospitals will not get paid for the services they are required by law to provide to patients,” wrote Sens. Edward Markey, Ron Wyden, Jeffrey Merkley, and Chuck Schumer in a letter to Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. 

“In turn, rural hospitals will face deeper financial strain that could lead to negative health outcomes for the communities they serve,” they added. 

The  cuts federal lawmakers are exploring are part of a Trump-led effort to extend certain tax cuts and trim the federal deficit, while boosting federal spending on defense and border security. Legislators have explored cutting several federal social aid programs or incentive packages to achieve these goals. Medicaid in particular has appeared to be a potential target, as it’s one of the largest sources of federal spending to states.

While Republicans, which currently control both chambers of congress, have largely been on board with Trump’s plans, some like Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo, have expressed caution as lawmakers continue to workshop the proposals. 

Walker, with the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, also said hospitals in rural areas could see a domino effect of problems if the Senate version progresses as-is.  Rural hospitals are often a key local employer, Walker explained, and they also often serve sizable portions of Medicaid patients. 

In the meantime, he said that Virginia’s hospitals are engaging with lawmakers in D.C. about the issue.

The Mercury reached out to U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine’s office for comment but didn’t hear back by press time.

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Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com.

The post Senate draft of ‘big, beautiful bill’ could cut funds for Virginia hospitals, also affect Medicaid appeared first on virginiamercury.com



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Left

This article presents information with a focus on the potential negative impacts of proposed Medicaid funding cuts, emphasizing concerns from hospitals and Democratic lawmakers. It highlights the risks to healthcare access, especially in rural areas, and frames the Senate Republican-led budget changes as harmful to vulnerable populations. While it acknowledges Republican efforts and internal GOP debate, the tone and sources—such as Democratic senators and healthcare advocates—reflect a perspective sympathetic to protecting Medicaid and social services, which aligns with a center-left stance without overt partisan rhetoric.

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How much screen time is too much for kids? | NBC4 Washington

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www.youtube.com – NBC4 Washington – 2025-06-19 19:50:09

SUMMARY: Dr. Adrienne Collier, a pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente, advises that young kids and teens should have two to three hours of non-school screen time, especially in summer. Excessive screen time can disrupt sleep, cause visual problems, and increase risks of depression and anxiety. She recommends turning off screens 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime and keeping phones out of children’s bedrooms to avoid distractions. Parents should model healthy screen habits by limiting phone use during meals and encouraging outdoor activities like walking or playing with pets. Emphasizing family conversations and attention to surroundings helps children develop better habits and well-being.

Too much screen time can affect kids’ eyes, sleep, attention and mental health. News4’s Erika Gonzalez looked at what parents need to know about digital devices as summertime routines take hold.
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