The administration of President Donald Trump faced a Thursday deadline to provide further details regarding the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, based in Washington, is reviewing whether these deportations violated his order temporarily halting expulsions. The judge required the administration to disclose the exact departure and arrival times of deportation flights or invoke the state secrets privilege to justify withholding such information.
By 12:15 p.m. EDT (1615 GMT), the public docket showed no submission from the administration, and neither the Justice Department nor Boasberg’s office provided immediate comments. The judge had offered the option of submitting flight details under seal to prevent public disclosure. However, he cast doubt on the relevance of the state secrets privilege in this case, noting that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had already posted details about the flights on social media.
Tensions between the Trump administration and the judiciary escalated on Tuesday when Trump openly called for Judge Boasberg’s impeachment. The president labeled Boasberg a “Radical Left Lunatic” and accused him of obstructing policies that voters supported. His remarks triggered an unusual response from U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts, who criticized attempts to undermine judicial independence.
Despite Trump’s fiery rhetoric, he has stated he would not defy court rulings. However, the situation has sparked concerns among legal experts and critics of the president regarding a potential constitutional showdown. The U.S. Constitution establishes the judiciary and executive as co-equal branches of government, and any attempt to override judicial authority could lead to serious legal consequences.
Judge Boasberg, appointed to the federal bench in 2011 with overwhelming bipartisan support, has warned of repercussions should the administration be found in violation of his ruling. However, he has not yet specified what those consequences might be. His order, issued Saturday, imposed a two-week ban on deportations under Trump’s use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which the administration cited to justify the removal of alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang without formal immigration court rulings.
Despite the judge’s ruling, three deportation flights landed in El Salvador on Saturday evening, where the migrants are now being detained under an agreement between Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. The unfolding legal battle adds to growing tensions over immigration enforcement and the limits of executive power.