JUSTICE ROBERTS pushes back against Trump’s critique of radical Obama-appointed judge
In this DML Report…
Trump’s Deportation Flights Spark Legal Firestorm
On March 18, a major clash unfolded between the Trump administration and the judiciary over the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members. President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify deporting over 200 individuals, suspected of ties to the Tren de Aragua gang, to El Salvador over the weekend. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued a last-minute order on Saturday to halt these flights, demanding that planes mid-flight turn back, but the administration pressed ahead, claiming the deportations were already underway. This defiance prompted a heated Monday hearing where Boasberg accused the government of flouting his authority, summarizing their stance as, “We don’t care, we’ll do what we want,” while the Justice Department argued compliance with a less specific written ruling rather than the verbal directive.
Chief Justice Roberts Rebukes Trump’s Impeachment Call
The controversy escalated when Trump lashed out on Truth Social, calling Judge Boasberg a “Radical Left Lunatic” and suggesting he should be impeached for blocking the deportations. This drew a rare and sharp rebuke from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on March 18, who issued a statement defending judicial independence. Without naming Trump, Roberts declared that impeachment is not a valid response to judicial disagreement, emphasizing over two centuries of legal precedent. The public slapdown came hours after Trump’s outburst, highlighting tensions between the executive and judicial branches as the administration pushes its aggressive immigration agenda, including the largest mass deportation plan from Trump’s campaign promises.
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High-Stakes Showdown Looms Over Presidential Power
The incident has set the stage for a broader legal and constitutional battle. The Justice Department sought to remove Boasberg from the case, accusing him of overstepping his jurisdiction, while the administration signaled its intent to continue deportations under alternative immigration laws, anticipating a Supreme Court showdown. Legal experts warn of a potential breakdown in the balance of powers, with the White House asserting Trump’s authority over foreign affairs and migrant removal trumps judicial oversight. The fallout remains unresolved, with the deported illegals —now in El Salvador, and the courts gearing up to test the limits of Trump’s wartime powers against judicial checks.