A federal judge on Monday gave the Trump administration until Tuesday to provide details on the deportation of Venezuelans despite court orders halting the flights, setting up a legal confrontation over presidential authority.
President Donald Trump had claimed that the deported individuals were members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua, which he recently designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.
On Saturday, the White House issued a proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, declaring that the gang was engaged in irregular warfare against the US.
Later that day, US District Judge James Boasberg issued an order blocking the deportations, but flights continued, transporting 261 people to El Salvador.
A Trump administration lawyer argued that the judge’s initial oral ruling blocking the flights was superseded by a later written order, which was more limited in scope. The lawyer also contended that the government had the legal right to proceed with deportations once flights had left US airspace.
Since taking office in January, Trump has repeatedly tested the limits of executive power, challenging traditional checks and balances between the branches of government.
During a court hearing on Monday, Boasberg pressed Justice Department attorney Abhishek Kambli for specifics on the timing of the flights, particularly whether they departed after his order was issued.
“Why are you showing up today without answers?” Boasberg asked, as he sought to establish the exact timeline of events, including when the flights took off and who was on board.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that a total of 261 people were deported, including 137 removed under the Alien Enemies Act and over 100 others through standard immigration proceedings. She added that among those deported were 23 Salvadoran members of the MS-13 gang.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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