During a hearing last Friday, US District Judge James Boasberg expressed his determination to investigate whether officials in the Trump administration had disobeyed his orders by allowing the deportation of individuals under an 1798 law. Boasberg, the chief judge in Washington, DC, vowed to uncover who was responsible for this action and what repercussions would follow.
Boasberg, appointed by former President Barack Obama, criticized the Justice Department’s handling of the case and rebuked the administration for its disrespectful language in court filings. The hearing focused on arguments from the Justice Department seeking to have Boasberg lift his orders halting the use of the Alien Enemies Act for deportations.
The administration claimed that Boasberg had overstepped his authority by blocking the deportations, asserting that Trump’s invocation of the act was not subject to judicial review. The judge considered the possibility of amending his orders to allow deportations of individuals linked to a specific gang, but emphasized concerns about the broader implications of Trump’s use of the law.
Boasberg indicated unease with the administration’s interpretation of the law, expressing worries about its potential misuse and the lack of oversight. Despite the pending appeal at the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, Boasberg’s remarks suggest a cautious approach towards evaluating the legality and consequences of Trump’s actions under the Alien Enemies Act.
Judge Boasberg criticized the government for providing inadequate information in response to his request for more details about the deportations under question. He expressed frustration, stating that the government had evaded its obligations and had failed to provide sufficient information. The judge further lambasted the Department of Justice for presenting a sworn statement by an official from ICE that lacked substance, as the official claimed Cabinet secretaries were contemplating invoking the state secrets privilege. Boasberg admonished this action, emphasizing that the government could not rely on a lower-level official’s understanding of high-level discussions. Despite the judge’s order for deporting planes to turn back, attorneys for the migrants challenged the administration’s compliance. The Justice Department denied violating the judge’s orders and defended its actions. Criticism towards Judge Boasberg from Trump administration officials escalated, with accusations of overstepping his authority and interfering in foreign policies. Attorney General Pam Bondi criticized the judge’s actions, portraying them as endangering national security and prioritizing terrorists over American citizens. The administration’s disputes in court have been characterized as part of a larger pattern of defeats, with Boasberg symbolizing these setbacks.
