The White House responded to a federal judge’s attempt to halt the Trump administration’s recent deportation flights, invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to allow the deportations without a hearing. President Donald Trump’s move was criticized by the Central American leader who accepted the deportations over the weekend as being “too late.” U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ordered an immediate stop to the deportations to determine the legality of Trump’s invocation of the 1798 act. However, a Trump administration official claimed that the migrants had already left U.S. airspace when the judge issued his order.
In a statement to Fox News, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration’s actions, stating that the order to halt the deportations had no lawful basis and was issued after the migrants had already been removed from U.S. territory. Leavitt also argued that federal courts generally have no jurisdiction over the President’s actions regarding foreign affairs, his authority under the Alien Enemies Act, and his powers to remove foreign terrorists from U.S. soil. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele responded to Boasberg’s order by joking “Oopsie… too late” in a social media post and shared footage of heavily-armed Salvadorean authorities escorting the alleged gang members off the planes and rounding them up in prison cells.
A total of 261 illegal aliens were deported from the U.S. to El Salvador, including individuals removed under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, Venezuelans removed via Title 8, and Salvadoran MS-13 gang members. A senior Trump administration official confirmed the numbers, stating that the deported migrants were involved in crimes such as kidnapping, sexual abuse of a child, aggravated assault, prostitution, robbery, and aggravated assault of a police officer. The deportations also included two MS-13 ringleaders and “special cases” for El Salvador. Senator Marco Rubio was reportedly heading to Panama and Latin America to pursue Trump’s agenda.
The Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport illegal aliens without a hearing has drawn criticism from both domestic and international sources. While the White House defended the administration’s actions, the Central American leader who accepted the deportations deemed the judge’s attempt to halt the flights as “too late.” El Salvador President Nayib Bukele responded humorously to the judge’s order, indicating that the migrants had already been removed from U.S. territory. The deportation flights included individuals involved in serious crimes like kidnapping, sexual abuse of a child, and gang-related activities.
The invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 by President Donald Trump represents a rare use of the law, which had only been successfully invoked a few times in U.S. history during times of war. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ordered a stop to the deportation flights to determine the legality of Trump’s actions under the 1798 act. However, a Trump administration official claimed that the migrants had already left U.S. airspace when the judge issued his order, leading to a dispute over the authority of the courts in matters of foreign affairs and immigration policy. El Salvador’s acceptance of the deportations, including alleged gang members, added another layer of complexity to the situation.
The deportation of illegal aliens under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 has raised questions about the balance of power between the executive and judicial branches of the U.S. government. While the Trump administration argues that the President has broad authority in matters of foreign affairs and national security, critics question the use of a centuries-old law to justify deportations without due process. The response from El Salvador’s President and the handling of the deportations by Salvadorean authorities further highlight the international implications of U.S. immigration policy. The situation underscores the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement, national security, and the role of the courts in overseeing executive actions.
