Supreme Court Begins New Term with Key Cases Involving Immigration and Climate Change

<p>The Supreme Court's new term begins on October 5, 2026, with justices set to address significant issues related to President Trump's immigration policies, climate-change litigation, and gun control.</p><p><strong>Overview: </strong>One of the notable discussions may occur on social media, as Trump expresses dissatisfaction with the Supreme Court, which he influenced during his presidency.</p><hr /><ul><li>The executive and judicial branches are expected to engage in further legal disputes, with Trump continuing to assert his influence.</li></ul><p><strong>Current Developments: </strong>The court has agreed to hear two major immigration cases: one concerning mandatory detention for certain immigrants and another regarding the deportation of immigrants to third countries where they have no connections.</p><ul><li>In the latter case, the court permitted the administration to resume its expedited third-country deportations while it reviews the legal questions involved, with a hearing scheduled for December.</li><li>The court also agreed to hear the detention case, which will examine the Trump administration's interpretation that noncitizens who entered illegally but have been residing in the U.S. should be held without bond.</li><li>Federal appeals courts have shown a divided stance on this issue, with nine out of eleven courts rejecting the Trump administration's interpretation.</li></ul><p><strong>Background: </strong>Last term, the Supreme Court rejected Trump's efforts to alter birthright citizenship but also supported several of his immigration policies through its shadow docket.</p><ul><li>These rulings allowed the administration to end temporary protected status, enforce stricter asylum rules, and implement a revised method for verifying voters' citizenship.</li></ul><p><strong>Upcoming Cases: </strong>Before addressing immigration, the court will hear arguments in a significant climate case that could impact state-level lawsuits seeking damages from oil companies, as reported by Axios' Ben Geman.</p><ul><li>The court has also added two additional cases to its agenda, including one concerning a federal law that protects land use by religious organizations and another related to military benefits in divorce settlements.</li><li>Later in the term, the court will evaluate the constitutionality of bans on AR-15-style weapons and whether Arizona can require proof of citizenship for voter registration.</li><li>Additional legal challenges related to Trump's policies are anticipated to arise during this term.</li></ul><p><strong>Challenges: </strong>Despite the Supreme Court's support for executive power and several favorable rulings for Trump, it has also limited some of his more controversial actions. Trump has expressed frustration with the court's decisions.</p><ul><li>After the court blocked the administration's attempt to modify mail-in voting rules ahead of the midterms, Trump criticized the justices he appointed.</li><li>He stated on Truth Social, "These are not the people I interviewed to serve on the United States Supreme Court; they are merely a shell of their original selves."</li></ul><p><strong>In a recent interview with Time, Trump expressed regret over his nominations, saying, "I gave them the chance of a lifetime, and it's unfortunate what they did."</p><p><strong>Further Reading: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/29/trump-supreme-court-shadow-docket-41-applications">Trump's shadow docket blitz hits a new milestone</a></p>