Exclusive: How the White House ignored a judge's order to turn back deportation flights [View all]
Last edited Sun Mar 16, 2025, 05:27 PM - Edit history (2)
Source: Axios
The Trump administration says it ignored a Saturday court order to turn around two planeloads of alleged Venezuelan gang members because the flights were over international waters and therefore the ruling didn't apply, two senior officials tell Axios.
Why it matters: The administration's decision to defy a federal judge's order is exceedingly rare and highly controversial.
"Court order defied. First of many as I've been warning and start of true constitutional crisis," national security attorney Mark S. Zaid, a Trump critic, wrote on X, adding that Trump could ultimately get impeached.
The White House welcomes that fight. "This is headed to the Supreme Court. And we're going to win," a senior White House official told Axios.
Read more: https://www.axios.com/2025/03/16/trump-white-house-defy-judge-deport-venezuelans
According to the article, the original intention wasn't to defy a court. It was to act so quickly that the planes were landed in El Salvador before a court had time to act.
But they did defy the judge's order and now they're claiming they could because the flight was over international waters.
About the Alien Enemies Act:
Since the act is not part of immigration law, it would allow the government to detain and deport people without court hearings or asylum interviews.
Its most infamous use came during World War II, when it was used help justify Japanese internment.
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