Supreme Court clears path for Trump’s third country deportation policy

The Supreme Court on Tuesday removed obstacles to the Trump administration’s deportation of immigrants to third countries, granting an emergency request that blocked an appeals court ruling. The court’s three liberals dissenting, the unsigned order also set a December oral argument and a definitive ruling on the legal questions raised. This action follows last year’s decision that allowed the policy to move forward after lower courts had blocked it earlier.

The ruling means that people facing removal to third countries are again at immediate risk of being sent to places where they have no meaningful opportunity to seek protection. Four unnamed immigrants challenged the policy, arguing that individuals should have a “meaningful opportunity” to claim that they could face torture or persecution if deported. The appeals court ruling was initially put on hold, but on Sept. 23 it went into effect, prompting the Trump administration to rush to the Supreme Court.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer said that putting “third country” deportations on hold created substantial logistical problems with ongoing removal operations and has “led to added expense, potential diplomatic issues, and the inability to remove dangerous criminals.” The government has said no individualized determination is needed because the countries it has made deals with to take immigrants have said they would not mistreat them. Lawyers for the plaintiffs pointed out that lower court rulings do not require anyone to be released from detention or even prevent third country removals if people are given a chance to raise objections.

Read the full story at NBC News.