Federal Judge Rebukes DOJ Over Deportations

5mins read: Federal Judge Rebukes DOJ Over Deportations Amid Legal Dispute

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Hey Small Biters,

​A federal judge has strongly criticized the Trump administration's legal justification for using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport Venezuelan nationals accused of gang affiliations. The case, which centers on the controversial application of an 18th-century wartime law, has sparked legal battles, human rights concerns, and questions about executive overreach.

• Judge Boasberg’s Harsh Rebuke of DOJ Lawyers – During a heated hearing, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg scolded DOJ attorneys for refusing to answer direct questions about the timing and legality of the deportations. The judge expressed frustration that key government officials seemed to evade responsibility for their actions, suggesting that the administration had taken an aggressive approach without legal clarity.

• Administration’s Use of the Alien Enemies Act – The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime law originally designed to detain and deport foreign nationals from enemy countries during war. The administration argues that Venezuelan migrants associated with the Tren de Aragua gang pose a national security threat and that existing immigration laws are too slow to process such cases effectively.