Federal judge fumes over Trump administration’s late-night deportation move

A federal judge recently grilled Trump administration lawyers over their deportation of Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador, despite a court order blocking the move. This legal battle has escalated in recent days and may ultimately reach the Supreme Court.

During a motion hearing, U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg questioned Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign about the administration’s failure to comply with an emergency court order. This order had temporarily blocked the use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan nationals, including alleged members of the gang Tren de Aragua, from the U.S. for 14 days.

Despite the court order, at least 261 migrants were deported to El Salvador, including over 100 Venezuelan nationals subject to removal under the temporarily blocked law. Boasberg raised concerns about the timing of the deportations and questioned why they occurred before a lawsuit was filed.

Boasberg also pressed Ensign on his knowledge of the deportations during last week’s court hearing. The judge expressed frustration with the government’s lack of transparency and failure to provide details about the deportation flights.

In response to Boasberg’s questions, Ensign admitted that he did not have information about the deportation flights and claimed that no one would provide him with the necessary details. Boasberg ordered the Trump administration to explain why they failed to comply with his order and whether they knowingly defied the ruling by landing in El Salvador.

The judge voiced concerns about the administration’s apparent defiance of federal judges and the implications of not allowing for judicial review of their actions. He raised hypothetical scenarios in which the President could use the deportation law to label any foreign activity as an invasion, highlighting the importance of court oversight.

In a court order filed Thursday, Boasberg criticized the Justice Department for evading their obligations and failing to answer his questions about the deportation flights. The Trump administration may invoke the state secrets privilege in the court battle, which could allow them to withhold certain information for national security reasons.

President Donald Trump called on the Supreme Court to intervene and stop federal judges from blocking his executive orders. Trump warned that the country is in serious trouble if the Supreme Court does not address the issue of nationwide injunctions.

Overall, the legal dispute over the deportation of Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador has raised significant questions about the administration’s compliance with court orders and the role of judicial oversight in immigration enforcement. The case may ultimately have far-reaching implications for the balance of power between the executive and judicial branches of government.