Judge Demands Details on Deportation Flights Amid Legal Dispute

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg has ordered the Trump administration to provide detailed information regarding two deportation flights that proceeded over the weekend despite his temporary injunction against such removals. The injunction was issued in response to President Donald Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

The Justice Department contends that the flights departed U.S. airspace before the judge’s written order was issued at 7:25 p.m. EDT on Saturday, arguing that his earlier oral instructions were not legally binding. Judge Boasberg has requested specifics, including the exact departure times, when the planes exited U.S. airspace, landing times, transfer of custody details, and the number of individuals deported solely under the Alien Enemies Act.

This situation has sparked a potential constitutional conflict between the executive branch and the judiciary. President Trump has called for Judge Boasberg’s impeachment over the injunction, a move that Chief Justice John Roberts has publicly rebuked, emphasizing that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreements with judicial rulings.

The administration maintains that the deported individuals are members of the Tren de Aragua gang, posing a national security threat. However, critics argue that the use of the Alien Enemies Act for these deportations is unprecedented and raises significant legal and ethical concerns.

The court has set a deadline for the administration to provide the requested flight details by noon on Wednesday, as the legal battle over the scope of presidential authority and judicial oversight continues.