A federal judge is demanding the Trump administration reveal classified information about Venezuelan gang deportations, raising alarms about potential national security risks. But Trump isn’t buying it – and is taking it right to the Supreme Court.
At a glance:
• Judge James Boasberg ordered the Trump administration to provide classified details about deportations of Venezuelan gang members
• The Trump administration invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport suspected members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua
• The Justice Department argues the judge’s demands jeopardize sensitive national security operations
• Despite a temporary restraining order, deportation flights continued as the administration claimed there was no formal injunction
• The case is likely headed to the Supreme Court as a major test of presidential powers versus judicial authority
Judge Demands Classified Information Despite National Security Concerns
The standoff between Judge James Boasberg and the Trump administration has escalated after the judge demanded classified information regarding deportations of Venezuelan gang members. The administration deported hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador despite the court’s apparent attempt to halt the removals.
The Department of Justice must now submit a sworn statement confirming whether the 1798 Alien Enemies Act was used to deport Venezuelan men to El Salvador. This rare invocation of a law not used since World War II has become central to the administration’s border security strategy.
The ACLU claims the government violated a court order by continuing deportation flights to Honduras and El Salvador. Critics argue the judge’s demands for sensitive information threaten to undermine executive authority on matters related to national security.
Trump Administration Defends Actions Against Venezuelan Gang “Invasion”
President Trump’s team has firmly rejected the court’s intervention, arguing that the executive branch has constitutional authority to address threats to national security. The administration has described the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as conducting an invasion and irregular warfare against the United States.
The Trump administration paid El Salvador $6 million to detain the deported individuals, demonstrating the seriousness with which they view the threat. Department of Homeland Security officials have revoked protections for Venezuelans, specifically citing gang activity as justification.
“The Government cannot—and will not—be forced to answer sensitive questions of national security and foreign relations in a rushed posture without orderly briefing and a showing that these questions are somehow material to a live issue,” the Trump administration said in court filings.
This is a very different Trump administration than the last one, don’t you think?
Constitutional Crisis Brewing Over Separation of Powers
Legal experts warn that Judge Boasberg’s demands may represent dangerous judicial overreach into executive branch authority – and Trump just keeps getting proven right on this. The case highlights fundamental questions about which branch of government has final say over national security operations.
“Judge Boasberg demands the Justice Department must disclose highly classified information about a national-security operation involving the worst terrorists and one of America’s strongest allies in the Western Hemisphere,” said Mike Davis, a prominent conservative legal expert.
