U.S. Supreme Court Backs Trump Administration’s Expanded Migrant Deportation Policy

The United States Supreme Court on Monday authorized the Trump administration to resume deporting migrants to third-party countries, even if those are not the migrants’ countries of origin—marking a significant shift in U.S. immigration enforcement.

In a brief order, the Court’s conservative majority lifted a prior legal restriction that had allowed migrants to challenge such deportations in court. The decision effectively paves the way for faster removals of individuals—many of whom hail from countries like Myanmar, Vietnam, and Cuba—where direct repatriation is not always possible due to diplomatic or humanitarian constraints.

The ruling comes amid renewed vows from former President Donald Trump to step up immigration enforcement. He has publicly pledged to deport millions of undocumented immigrants if re-elected, doubling down on the hardline approach that defined his previous administration.

One recent case highlighted the policy’s real-world impact: eight migrants were placed aboard a deportation flight originally headed for South Sudan. The flight was diverted to a U.S. naval base in Djibouti after District Judge Brian Murphy issued an emergency order halting the transfer. Judge Murphy had earlier ruled that migrants must be given a chance to prove they could face torture or death if sent to a third country.

In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned the Court’s decision could endanger lives. “Removing individuals without proper judicial review may send people back to countries where they face grave harm,” she cautioned.

Khaby Lame Deportation Sparks Backlash

Separately, the U.S. government’s latest deportations drew global attention with the removal of Khaby Lame, the world’s most-followed TikTok creator. Nigeria News 247 reported last week that Lame was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Las Vegas and subsequently deported over allegations of visa overstay.

Lame, a 25-year-old Italian-Senegalese influencer with more than 160 million TikTok followers, entered the U.S. on April 30. ICE confirmed he overstayed the terms of his visa and was issued a voluntary departure order before leaving the country last Friday.

His deportation ignited widespread outrage online—both over the circumstances and the claim by a Trump-aligned teenager who said he helped orchestrate it.

“Every single illegal alien needs to be DEPORTED,” Bo Loudon, a Gen Z Trump supporter and self-described activist, wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “When I found out the biggest TikTok star, Khaby Lame, is an illegal alien evading taxes, I worked with Trump’s ICE to have him removed.”

Loudon, who frequently posts photos with Donald Trump, his son Barron, and other figures from the MAGA movement, claimed he tipped off authorities after hearing rumors about Lame’s immigration status from friends.

The incident has fueled debate over the intersection of celebrity, immigration, and partisan activism, as the U.S. faces growing scrutiny over its immigration policies in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.