Washington DC — A federal judge has criticized the Trump administration for allegedly evading responsibilities related to providing information on the deportation of Venezuelan nationals. Judge James Boasberg, the chief federal judge for the District of Columbia, set a firm deadline for the Justice Department to clarify the details surrounding the deportation of numerous Venezuelans to El Salvador, which the administration conducted over the weekend.
Judge Critiques Trump Administration Over Deportation Flight Information
Judge Critiques Trump Administration Over Deportation Flight Information
A federal judge expresses frustration over the government's lack of transparency regarding recent deportation flights of Venezuelan gang members.
In a public declaration, Boasberg revealed that the government responded with a brief statement from an immigration official rather than the requested flight specifics. While the official suggested that cabinet members were contemplating invoking state secrets privilege, Boasberg rejected this justification, emphasizing that the claims were neither verified nor directly supported by those in charge of the discussions. The deportations, part of a controversial initiative involving the Alien Enemies Act, have raised eyebrows, especially since Boasberg had ordered a halt to such flights. He ordered that any aircraft in transit should be diverted back to the US, a directive that seemed ignored by the White House as the flights commenced.
Further complicating matters, the Trump administration's representatives indicated a potential appeal to the protections of state secrets, which allows the government to withhold information deemed sensitive to national security. Boasberg, clearly dissatisfied with the administration's evasiveness, has now mandated a response from a higher-level official involved in the decision-making process by Friday. The deportation of more than 200 Venezuelans has been specified as based on allegations linking them to the notorious gang Tren del Agua, a claim that the administration attributes to its broader efforts to curb organized crime. A more detailed hearing regarding the use of the Alien Enemies Act is scheduled for Friday, as scrutiny over the deportations continues to grow.
Further complicating matters, the Trump administration's representatives indicated a potential appeal to the protections of state secrets, which allows the government to withhold information deemed sensitive to national security. Boasberg, clearly dissatisfied with the administration's evasiveness, has now mandated a response from a higher-level official involved in the decision-making process by Friday. The deportation of more than 200 Venezuelans has been specified as based on allegations linking them to the notorious gang Tren del Agua, a claim that the administration attributes to its broader efforts to curb organized crime. A more detailed hearing regarding the use of the Alien Enemies Act is scheduled for Friday, as scrutiny over the deportations continues to grow.
