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Trump Administration Faces Court Clash Over Alleged Defiance of Deportation Halt

Judge Boasberg investigates whether deportations under the Alien Enemies Act violated his order, as the administration considers invoking state secrets privilege.

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Salvadoran police officers escort alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua recently deported by the U.S. government to be imprisoned in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison, as part of an agreement with the Salvadoran government, in Tecoluca, El Salvador, in this handout image obtained March 16, 2025.
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Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts presides during opening arguments in the U.S. Senate impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump in this frame grab from video shot in the U.S. Senate Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 21, 2020.

Overview

  • Federal Judge James Boasberg is probing whether the Trump administration defied his court order to halt deportation flights of Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador.
  • The administration deported hundreds of individuals, some without criminal records or gang affiliations, under the rarely used 1798 Alien Enemies Act.
  • The Department of Justice argues the flights were lawful, claiming the judge's oral order was unenforceable and did not apply to planes already in the air.
  • Judge Boasberg criticized the administration's lack of transparency, questioning why the deportation order was signed late at night and executed before legal challenges could be filed.
  • The administration is debating invoking the state secrets privilege to withhold details about the flights, with a decision expected by March 25.