Justice Barrett Under Fire For Siding Against Trump In Deportation Case

Prominent conservative figures are voicing strong disapproval of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett after she aligned with the liberal wing of the Court in a recent ruling that limits former President Donald Trump’s ability to use the Alien Enemies Act for rapid deportations of known MS-13 gang members. The gang has been designated a terrorist group by the U.S. State Department.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court delivered a narrow 5-4 decision that determined a lower court in Washington, D.C. had overstepped by halting the deportations. The justices concluded that since the gang members were detained in Texas, legal proceedings should have taken place there, not in D.C.

Justice Barrett dissented alongside the three liberal justices. In an opinion penned by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the dissent argued the administration’s move “pose[s] an extraordinary threat to the rule of law.” The majority decision overturned a block on deportation flights sending undocumented immigrants to high-security prisons in El Salvador and other home countries, although the green light to resume these flights comes with added restrictions.

Barrett, who became a conservative favorite during her confirmation process — notably when she held up a blank notepad to show she wasn’t using notes — is now drawing fire from many on the political right. Critics claim her stance undermines Trump’s wartime powers under the 1798 statute.

Among those expressing frustration was Rogan O’Handley, known online as DC_Draino, who posted: “While this Supreme Court victory for Trump allowing him to deport cartels is huge, it was only a 5-4 decision. Guess who joined the 3 liberal Justices to keep cartels here in America? Amy Coney Barrett.”

Echoing the sentiment, MAGA influencer "Catturd" — who commands a following of 3.6 million — unleashed a scathing critique. “There’s nobody I have less respect for in the entire country besides Dr. Fauci than Amy Commie Barrett,” he wrote. He continued, criticizing her for receiving “a million dollar Liberal book deal within weeks,” and accused her of seeking praise “by The New York Times.” He concluded his post by labeling her a “Weak, coward, sellout, fraud,” and a “disgusting fraud.”

Conservative personality Kim “Katie” USA also weighed in, writing: “Appointing a woman, namely Amy Coney Barrett, was a huge mistake.” One of her followers commented: “The bigger issue is that Barrett hates Trump.”

Jeff Younger, another conservative commentator, remarked that “All the men on the Court voted the law. All the women, including Amy Coney Barrett, voted their feelings.”

Angela Belcamino added her voice to the backlash, stating online, “We can all agree that no one likes Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett… Am I correct?” A respondent suggested Barrett is “a wolf in sheep’s wool,” speculating whether her rulings stem from personal animus toward Trump or a misrepresentation of her judicial philosophy.

Justice Barrett only partially joined the dissenting opinion authored by Sotomayor, which was also supported by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Sotomayor criticized the majority for intervening so quickly in the case, writing: “If the District Court were to resolve the question in plaintiffs’ favor, the Government could have appealed to this Court in the ordinary course… In its rush to decide the issue now, the Court halts the lower court’s work and forces us to decide the matter after mere days of deliberation.”