The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, allowed the Trump administration to resume, for now, deporting migrants to countries not named in their removal orders. The decision pauses a lower-court ruling that had blocked the policy. The court did not explain its reasoning, but it asked both sides to address two questions ahead of full arguments scheduled for December: whether lower courts had the authority to intervene, and whether the policy violates due process or protections against torture.

Who is affected

The ruling applies to immigrants whose home countries refuse to accept their return. Third-country removals allow the U.S. government to send such individuals to another country instead. With the lower-court block lifted while the case proceeds, the administration may again act on these removals, at least temporarily, until the Supreme Court rules on the merits.

Immigration advocates warn the policy could cause irreparable harm. One immigrant challenging the policy says he fears transfer to a country where he would not receive treatment for a severe mental illness.

A separate deportation fight continues

Mahmoud Khalil, who became a prominent face of Columbia University's pro-Palestinian movement, is also fighting the administration's effort to deport him. He told NPR's Fresh Air that 104 days in immigration detention strengthened his resolve to contest the case.

The court's questions signal the legal stakes

By asking whether district judges can intervene in these removals and whether the policy conflicts with due process and anti-torture protections, the justices have framed the December arguments around both procedural standing and substantive rights. A final ruling will determine whether third-country removals can continue as standard practice.

The change comes from the U.S. Supreme Court's order issued September 29, 2026. Readers facing removal proceedings should consult the official court filings and a qualified legal representative; this report does not constitute legal advice for individual cases.