The justices ruled 6-3, with the court's three liberals dissenting, to block an appeals court decision that had found the current deportation process unlawful. That lower court ruling said immigrants weren't getting a real chance to raise safety concerns about being sent to unfamiliar countries, a violation of federal immigration law according to the appeals court.
The order came from the court in brief and unsigned form. Justices said they will hear full oral arguments in December and issue a final ruling on the legal questions at the center of the case.
For now, the administration can proceed with these deportations while the deeper legal fight plays out over the next several months. People facing removal under this policy will not get the expanded review process the appeals court had ordered, at least not until the Supreme Court weighs in for good.
The dissent from three justices signals this isn't a settled question, even though the government just won the round that matters most right now. The policy will remain in effect through the holidays and into next year, since no final ruling is expected until after the December arguments.