US Judge blocks Trump's attempt to lift Venezuelan deportation ban
Chief Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has denied the Trump administration’s request to lift a temporary deportation ban on Venezuelans
The judge cited the public interest in preventing wrongful deportations. "There is, moreover, a strong public interest in preventing the mistaken deportation of people based on categories they have no right to challenge," Judge Boasberg stated.
The administration sought to overturn Boasberg’s temporary restraining orders (TROs), which halted the deportation of Venezuelan nationals amid claims that the Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Venezuelan criminal organization, poses a security threat to the United States.
Judge Boasberg ruled that individuals facing deportation must have the opportunity for personalized hearings to contest their classifications.
Emphasizing due process protections under the 14th Amendment, Boasberg stated that Venezuelans should be able to challenge allegations of TdA affiliation before deportation. His decision came just ahead of a hearing at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, where Circuit Judge Patricia Millett highlighted concerns over the treatment of different groups under similar legal frameworks.
Despite the court orders, approximately 238 Venezuelans were deported to El Salvador. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed these deportations occurred before the rulings and were beyond the court’s jurisdiction.
The Trump administration has invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify deporting Venezuelans, categorizing the TdA as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. This move has sparked legal challenges, with rights organizations arguing that the administration is exceeding its authority and violating constitutional and federal law.
In response to the decision, Trump suggested impeaching Judge Boasberg, but Chief Justice John Roberts dismissed the proposal. Meanwhile, the administration continues to push for the TROs to be overturned, arguing that the legal challenges against them are unlikely to succeed.
