Supreme Court begins new term with potential Trump immigration victories

The United States Supreme Court opened its new term on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, with Chief Justice John Roberts calling the justices into session at 10 a.m. EDT.

Newsmax correspondent Michael Cozzi said the Court could deliver significant victories for President Donald Trump on immigration, even as the president expressed frustration with three of the justices he appointed.

The first oral argument on the docket concerns a federal‑state environmental dispute over holding oil and gas companies liable for climate‑change harms, but the term’s agenda also includes multiple constitutional battles over executive authority, including anticipated challenges to immigration policies.

Legal analysts note that the Court’s 6‑3 conservative majority has historically green‑lighted many of the Trump administration’s actions. The Trump Justice Department has won more than 70 percent of its emergency applications before the Court since 2025, allowing temporary enforcement of contested policies.

During the previous term, the Court affirmed several immigration measures favored by the administration while rejecting other Trump initiatives such as reciprocal tariffs and changes to birthright citizenship. Cozzi’s comments underscore the significance of upcoming immigration cases, suggesting that the justices may again side with the administration on border‑security and visa‑regulation disputes.

Trump’s recent criticism of Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett—whom he called “a shell of their original selves” after a September 14 ruling on mail‑in voting—highlights the president’s ongoing frustration with the Court’s mixed record. Nonetheless, the administration’s track record on the so‑called “shadow docket” indicates a capacity to secure wins on urgent matters.

Observers say the outcomes of these immigration cases could influence the political landscape ahead of the November midterm elections, as policy shifts often become campaign focal points.

The Court’s term will continue to address other high‑profile issues, including federal‑bureaucracy reforms, gun‑rights cases, and challenges to religious‑liberty statutes, while the potential for a vacancy later in the year adds another layer of uncertainty.