White House Denies Violating Judge’s Order After Deporting Alleged Venezuelan Gang Members

What Happened?

The White House denied allegations on Monday that it engaged in 'a blatant violation' of a judge’s order by deporting roughly 250 Venezuelan alleged gang members to El Salvador.

U.S. district judge James E Boasberg scheduled a hearing to demand an explanation after deportation flights happened on Saturday despite a temporary order.

The order halted a bid to use an 18th-century wartime act after a federal civil lawsuit filed by a group of Venezuelan men in immigration custody.

During the hearing, Judge Boasberg verbally ordered any flights that had departed with Venezuelan immigrants using the Alien Enemies Act to turn around and return to the U.S.

U.S. border czar Tom Homan told Fox News Monday that he doesn't care what the judge thinks following recent pushback.

'I’m proud to be a part of this administration. We’re not stopping,' he added.

The New York Times reported that the filing implied the government had other legal grounds for the deportations other than the Alien Enemies Act.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt faced questions Monday during a briefing that discussed the administration's decision.

'All of the planes subject to the written order of this judge departed U.S. soil, U.S. territory before the judge’s written order,' Leavitt told reporters.

Leavitt added that there are questions about whether a verbal order carries the same weight as a written order.

'Our lawyers are determined to ask and answer those questions in court,' Leavitt stated hours before a court hearing.

According to Leavitt, the Trump administration paid the government of El Salvador roughly $6 million, 'pennies on the dollar,' compared to maximum-security prisons in the U.S.

Why it Matters

President Donald Trump readied his plans over the weekend to invoke the Alien Enemies Act to increase mass deportation efforts and enhance border security.

The Trump administration has conducted various discussions about invoking the act that can deport some migrants without a hearing.

It allows the president the ability to order the arrest, detention, and deportation of noncitizens ages 14 or older who come from countries staging an 'invasion or predatory incursion' of the U.S.

The detention and deportation of suspected members of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua were key targets of Trump.

Despite ongoing lawsuits, The Trump administration recently asked the Supreme Court to allow restrictions on birthright citizenship.

Three judges temporarily blocked Trump's executive order after five lawsuits were filed on behalf of more than 20 states.

The states argued Trump's order violates the 14th Amendment to end the constitutional guarantee.

Trump has pointed to a rise in deadly narcotics and other criminal organizations that have flowed across the U.S. border illegally as motivation behind this action.

How it Affects You

In the first 50 days of the Trump Administration, Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents have made 32,809 arrests.

ICE agents have only made 33,242 at-large arrests in the entire fiscal year of 2024.

Legal experts still argue that invoking the Alien Enemies Act could face an uphill legal battle.

The ability to target undocumented immigrants could intensify as this administration moves to continue mass deportation efforts.