Court Blocks President’s Use of 1798 Law for Deportations 

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United States: U.S. President Donald Trump has been given a Thursday deadline to provide details on the deportation of Venezuelan migrants, as part of a legal review of his administration’s deportation policy. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg has ordered the administration to disclose deportation flight timelines by noon (1600 GMT) or invoke the state secrets doctrine to withhold the information. 

Court Rejects Secrecy Amid Social Media Leak 

The Justice Department could have kept the flight details confidential, but the court rejected that option after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly shared the flight information on social media. 

Trump Calls for Judge’s Impeachment 

The situation grew dire on Tuesday when Trump requested Congress to oust Judge Boasberg while labeling him as a “Radical Left Lunatic.” The administration drew criticism from U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts for this action because it set a dangerous precedent regarding judicial authority. Even though he maintained fiery speech Trump made it clear that he would follow judicial mandates. 

Legal Experts Warn of Constitutional Crisis 

Critics and legal experts worry that Trump’s actions could lead to a constitutional crisis, as the judiciary and executive branches hold equal power under the U.S. Constitution. Judge Boasberg has not specified the consequences if the administration fails to comply with his order. 

1798 Law at Center of Deportation Controversy 

Trump has relied on the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to justify deporting members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua without immigration court hearings. However, Judge Boasberg ruled that the law does not grant the president the authority to treat the gang’s presence as a wartime threat. 

Deportation Flights Continue Despite Court Order 

Although Boasberg issued a temporary order on Saturday halting deportations under this policy, three flights to El Salvador still took off, reportedly due to an agreement between Trump-aligned officials and President Nayib Bukele. 

ACLU Challenges Trump’s Deportation Policy 

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a legal challenge on Wednesday, arguing that most individuals deported under this policy have no U.S. criminal record. The ACLU insists that the Alien Enemies Act applies only in cases of declared war or foreign invasion, not for targeting criminal groups. 

Justice Department Remains Silent 

As the legal battle intensifies, the Justice Department has not responded to requests for comment on Trump’s deportation policy or the pending court order.