Judge who ordered Venezuelan gang members returned to US faces impeachment calls
Texas GOP Rep. Brandon Gill wasted no time in announcing his plans to file articles of impeachment against Obama-appointed Judge James Boasberg after he issued an order halting President Donald Trump’s deportation of Venezuelan gang members. Gill took to X, formerly Twitter, to make the announcement, stating that he would be filing the motion during the upcoming week. The response from entrepreneur and Trump advisor Elon Musk was a succinct “Necessary.”
Musk further voiced his support for the impeachment motion in a separate post on X, emphasizing the importance of holding judges accountable for repeatedly flouting the law. He asserted that judges who fail to uphold the law should at least face an impeachment vote, regardless of the outcome.
The decision to impeach Boasberg was prompted by his recent ruling to halt the deportation of violent Venezuelan gang members who entered the U.S. illegally. Boasberg invoked the centuries-old Alien Enemies Act, last utilized during World War II, which grants the president broad powers to detain or deport noncitizens during times of war.
The restraining order issued by Boasberg came in response to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU and Democracy Forward, challenging Trump’s authority to deport dangerous illegal immigrants under wartime powers. The lawsuit argued that since the U.S. is not currently in a declared war, Trump’s use of his “wartime authority” was unlawful.
Trump’s proclamation, signed on Saturday, cited the Venezuelan-based Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang as engaging in hostile actions against the U.S. and designated them as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. This move followed Trump’s decision to label several Mexican drug cartels, including TdA, as FTOs the previous month.
Republicans, including Sen. Chuck Grassley, criticized Boasberg’s ruling, accusing the judge of overstepping his authority to benefit foreign gang members. Grassley warned that judicial activism of this nature could lead to a constitutional crisis if not addressed by the Supreme Court or Congress.
Gill’s decision to pursue impeachment reflects a growing sentiment among conservatives that judges who disregard the law should face consequences. The exact timeline for introducing the articles of impeachment against Boasberg remains unclear, but the move underscores the ongoing tension between the executive and judicial branches.
As the debate over immigration policy and executive authority continues to unfold, the issue of judicial activism and its implications for national security and the rule of law will undoubtedly remain a point of contention. It remains to be seen how Boasberg’s ruling and the subsequent impeachment efforts will impact the broader legal landscape in the coming weeks.
