Roberts Led Court Sides with Authoritarianism Twice: Fast-Tracks Deportations and Blocks Nonprofits from Defending Fired Workers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 9, 2025
PRESS CONTACT: press@commondefense.us
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, the Supreme Court and Chief Justice Roberts delivered two disturbing victories favoring the Trump administration, both in which advances the administration’s authoritarian agenda by fast-tracking deportations under an outdated, centuries-old wartime law and blocking veterans, public service unions, small business and conservation organizations from defending federal workers who have been unjustly terminated by his administration.
In the first decision issued yesterday, the Court allowed the Trump administration to continue deporting migrants under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act—sending them to for-profit prisons in El Salvador—even in cases where the government admitted to wrongful removal. The ruling effectively strips migrants of their ability to challenge their detention and violates longstanding principles of due process.
“Long before we donned the uniform, many of us chose this country, motivated not by birthplace, but by a profound belief in its ideals,” said Diane Vega, an Air Force veteran. “In the face of a Supreme Court enabling the current administration to exploit an outdated wartime law for expedited deportations of vulnerable Latino communities—sending lives to private prisons in El Salvador without due process—we must recognize this isn't about national security; it's a strategy of fear and control. Each ruling that targets the marginalized drifts us further from the nation we vowed to protect. But we refuse to be silenced. We will not retreat. We will not allow anyone to redefine what it means to be American."
In a second ruling issued today, the Court dismissed a legal challenge brought by a coalition of unions, veteran groups, and nonprofits that Common Defense joined to fight for the rights of federal employees purged from their federal posts. The ruling held that civil society groups lack standing to defend those terminated under politically motivated orders.
“While this represents a setback, Common Defense remains steadfast in its mission to stand with the workers who were unjustly terminated by this administration, and in defense of the constitutional freedoms we swore to uphold,” said Oscar Arbulu, Common Defense’s Campaign and Mobilization Deputy Director. “The government argued this dispute is solely between the federal government and its employees. We respectfully reject that premise. Plaintiffs will redeploy to the courtroom tomorrow, advancing new legal grounds for relief. This operation is far from complete. The campaign continues.”.
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Common Defense Civic Engagement is a grassroots, veteran-led organization (501c4) that was founded in 2016. We empower veterans to stand up for our communities against the rising tide of racism, hate, and violence, to organize against the entrenched powers that have rigged our economy, and to champion an equitable and representative democracy, where “liberty and justice” truly is for all. For too long, politicians from both political parties have attempted to use veterans as unwilling political props, and Common Defense serves as a home for veterans to organize and speak for themselves and support the candidates who truly share our values.