Supreme Court Refuses to Block Texas Deportation Agreement

The Supreme Court of the United States refused on Tuesday to block a settlement between the United States Department of Justice and the State of Texas. The agreement removes the discretion of immigration judges to postpone deportation proceedings, effectively reinstating a Trump-era position that judges cannot indefinitely suspend such cases.

The deal resolves a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who claimed that a 2024 rule allowing administrative closure for those seeking humanitarian protections functioned as de facto amnesty. By settling the case, the Justice Department and Texas have eliminated the suspension of proceedings for these individuals.

Opponents of the agreement, including the advocacy group Centro Legal and the cities of Baltimore, New Haven, and Columbus, described the settlement as egregious collusion. They argued the Trump administration used the deal to bypass formal agency processes to dismantle a Biden-era policy. The Supreme Court issued a one-sentence order without providing reasoning or noting any dissents.