President Donald Trump has lashed out at a federal judge who questioned the legality of his administration’s recent deportation of Venezuelan migrants to a mega-prison in El Salvador.
Judge James Boasberg, the chief federal judge in Washington DC, dismissed a government filing as “woefully insufficient” and accused the White House of evading court orders by failing to provide key details about the deportation flights. The judge had previously ordered the government to stop the flights, but the White House claimed it was too late, stating the planes were already in international airspace.
Trump responded angrily on Truth Social, calling Judge Boasberg a “grandstander” and accusing him of trying to “usurp the Power of the Presidency.” Trump also renewed calls to stop nationwide injunctions against presidential policies and urged the U.S. Supreme Court to step in and “fix this toxic and unprecedented situation.”
Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare public rebuke, saying impeachment threats against judges were not a proper reaction to legal disagreements.
The controversial deportation effort, which relied on the rarely used 1798 Alien Enemies Act, saw more than 200 Venezuelans expelled, many alleged by the administration to be members of the criminal gang Tren de Aragua. However, attorneys for some deportees have pushed back, arguing that at least some of the individuals had no criminal ties.
One such case involves Jerce Reyes Barrios, a Venezuelan soccer player seeking asylum, who was allegedly misidentified as a gang member due to a tattoo linked to his favorite football team, Real Madrid.
As the legal battle unfolds, Judge Boasberg has demanded a sworn declaration from a cabinet-level official by Friday morning and scheduled a hearing to review the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act.
The clash sets the stage for a broader constitutional debate over presidential power, judicial oversight, and the rights of migrants in the U.S.
