A U.S. District Judge is evaluating whether the Trump administration violated a court order that temporarily halted the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. The review comes after claims that two deportation flights had already left the United States before the court's ruling took effect.

Judge James Boasberg had issued a two-week injunction on March 15 to assess a lawsuit challenging the use of this rarely invoked law. However, deportation flights carrying Venezuelans to El Salvador had already taken off, raising questions about whether the administration acted in defiance of the court's directive.

The Trump administration argues that the deportations were completed before the judge's ruling and maintains that the judiciary has no authority to interfere with presidential decisions regarding suspected terrorists abroad. The legal battle has sparked broader debates about the limits of executive power and judicial oversight. President Trump has responded by calling for Judge Boasberg’s impeachment, a move that Chief Justice John Roberts has criticized, emphasizing that disagreements with court rulings should be resolved through legal appeals rather than political actions.

Complications in the deportation process have also come to light, with reports that the administration mistakenly deported Kilmer Abrego-Garcia, a Salvadoran man who had been legally protected from removal. Government officials claim they lack the authority to return him since he is no longer under U.S. custody, while his lawyers dispute allegations of his gang affiliation and demand his repatriation.

Additionally, concerns have been raised over the deportation of 238 Venezuelans to El Salvador, including 27 individuals with pending asylum cases. Reports suggest that many of these deportations were carried out without giving the individuals a chance to contest their removal in court. Critics argue that some deportees were falsely identified as gang members based on tattoos or clothing, raising concerns over potential misidentifications and due process violations.

The administration has taken its case to the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking approval to continue using the Alien Enemies Act for expedited deportations. This comes after Judge Boasberg’s temporary block on the policy was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

These developments highlight the ongoing tensions between the executive branch's immigration policies and the judiciary’s role in protecting migrants’ legal rights and due process. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for future immigration enforcement policies and the balance of power between the branches of government.