Spots 
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday, for a second time, removed obstacles to the Trump administration deporting certain immigrants to “third countries” to which they have no previous connection.
The justices, with the court’s three liberals dissenting, granted an emergency request filed by the government seeking to block an appeals court ruling that said the current process is unlawful because the affected people are not given a proper chance to raise concerns about safety risks in violation of federal immigration law.
In the brief unsigned order, the court also said it would hear oral arguments in December and issue a definitive ruling on the legal questions raised in the litigation.
The Supreme Court last year allowed the policy to move forward after it was blocked by lower courts at an earlier stage of the litigation.
Since Trump’s second term began in January 2025, thousands of people have been sent to third countries, which include South Sudan, Eswatini and Rwanda.
About 15,000 people were deported to third countries in 2025, according to the Migration Policy Institute, with Mexico receiving the majority.
Four unnamed immigrants challenged the policy, arguing that people should have a “meaningful opportunity” to claim that they could face torture or persecution if deported to one of the third countries.
Massachusetts-based U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy agreed (It was his earlier ruling that the Supreme Court blocked last year, which led to heavy criticism from within MAGA world.)
The Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Murphy’s most recent ruling and sided with the unnamed immigrants, citing a federal law that prevents deportations to a country where the person faces likely persecution.
Although the appeals court ruling was initially put on hold, on Sept. 23, it went into effect, prompting the Trump administration to rush to the Supreme Court.
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday, for a second time, removed obstacles to the Trump administration deporting certain immigrants to “third countries” to which they have no previous connection.