A federal judge is demanding explanations from the Trump administration after deportation flights carrying Venezuelans proceeded despite an explicit court order blocking their removal. The administration has until Tuesday to disclose details about the flights, setting up a potential constitutional clash over executive authority.
The dispute centers on President Donald Trump’s decision to deport individuals he claims are members of the Tren de Aragua gang, which his administration has labeled a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, Trump argued the gang posed a national security threat. However, after a judge halted the deportations, three flights still departed, carrying a total of 261 people to El Salvador.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg repeatedly pressed the Justice Department’s attorney in a Monday hearing, seeking clarity on when the flights departed and whether they took off after his order was issued. “Why are you showing up today without answers?” he asked, as the administration resisted disclosing full details, citing national security concerns.
A legal battle looms over the administration’s stance that courts have no jurisdiction over Trump’s use of the 18th-century law to expel foreign nationals. Civil rights groups, including the ACLU, argue the government is overstepping its powers, with some warning the situation is nearing a constitutional crisis.
The judge has ordered the Trump administration to provide a detailed account of the deportations by midday Tuesday, setting the stage for a high-stakes confrontation over executive authority and judicial oversight.
