The Justice Department is opposing a federal judge’s request for details on deportation flights to El Salvador, creating a legal conflict linked to a wartime declaration. Amid calls for judicial accountability from President Trump, U.S. District Judge Boasberg demands information to verify compliance with his earlier orders. White House officials reported significant deportations, further complicating the ongoing tensions over executive power and judicial oversight.
The Justice Department is currently resisting a federal judge’s demand for additional information regarding deportation flights to El Salvador. This development signifies a conflict stemming from an 18th-century wartime declaration that temporarily obstructed deportations. President Donald Trump has expressed his intent to impeach the judge, further complicating the dynamic between the administration and the judiciary following various court decisions that challenged his executive actions.
U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, appointed by former President Barack Obama, has mandated that the Trump administration respond to several specified inquiries confidentially. These inquiries include details regarding flight schedules and the number of individuals deported under Trump’s decree. In response, the Justice Department criticized these requests, indicating they intrude upon the executive branch’s essential authorities concerning national security and foreign policy.
The court has set a new deadline, requiring the administration to either supply the sought information or assert that disclosure could harm state secrets. Judge Boasberg emphasized that the information is crucial to assess whether the Trump administration complied with his earlier order directing planes with deportees to return to the United States. The Justice Department argues that exposing this information would violate state secret protocols, countering the judge’s assertion that much data has already been publicized.
President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act amid allegations of an invasion by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, a legal framework historically employed during war times. Judge Boasberg prohibited the deportation of individuals under this law. Following the judge’s order, the administration informed the court that two flights had taken off before the ruling took effect, while a third flight operated under different jurisdictional guidelines. However, it has refrained from disclosing estimates regarding the total number of individuals affected by the proclamation.
Moreover, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that approximately 261 individuals had been deported, with 137 under the specific legal framework in question. This situation reflects ongoing tensions between the executive and judicial branches, underlining the complexities surrounding immigration law enforcement and national security.
In summary, the Justice Department’s resistance to a federal judge’s inquiries about deportation flights underscores significant tensions between the executive and judicial branches. Judge Boasberg’s order aims to ensure compliance with his rulings while the administration asserts its prerogatives relating to national security. As this legal showdown escalates, it highlights prevailing conflicts over immigration law and executive authority under the Trump administration.
Original Source: apnews.com
