The Trump administration sought to cancel a federal court hearing and remove the judge overseeing it, as White House officials escalated their confrontational stance.
Administration Stonewalls Judge on Deportation Flights
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration repeatedly refused to answer a federal judge’s inquiries on Monday regarding potential violations of his order blocking the deportation of over 200 noncitizens. The legal standoff has raised concerns about a looming constitutional crisis.
During a tense hearing in Federal District Court, Justice Department attorney Abhishek Kambli declined to provide details on deportation flights to El Salvador conducted over the weekend. The government cited the Alien Enemies Act, a rarely used wartime law, to justify the removals.
Judge James E. Boasberg demanded clarity, instructing Mr. Kambli to report by noon on Tuesday when the administration believed his order halting deportations took effect—a key detail in determining potential defiance of judicial authority.
White House Defiance Raises Stakes
Earlier Monday, Tom Homan, Trump’s “border czar,” openly dismissed judicial oversight in a Fox News interview.
“We’re not stopping,” Homan declared. “I don’t care what the judges think—I don’t care what the left thinks. We’re coming.”
Homan defended the weekend deportations, which included alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang, and vowed that flights would continue daily.
A Direct Challenge to the Judiciary
The Justice Department’s resistance to Judge Boasberg’s questioning signaled an unprecedented clash between the executive and judicial branches. Before the hearing, officials attempted to have it canceled, arguing they had no intention of providing further details.
In a striking move, the department also petitioned a federal appeals court to remove Judge Boasberg from the case entirely, intensifying tensions between the administration and the judiciary.
This escalating legal battle underscores a broader pattern of defiance from the Trump administration, which has repeatedly pushed the limits of executive power in its immigration policies.
