Deportation Flights Evade Court Orders
🔴 Abuse of Power ·
Mar 15, 2025, ongoing
Summary
The Trump administration repeatedly conducted deportation flights at times and in ways designed to evade judicial oversight. On March 15, 2025, at least two planes carrying 261 alleged Tren de Aragua gang members departed for El Salvador after Judge James Boasberg issued an emergency order to turn the planes around. The administration made ‘a calculated decision to ignore’ the judge’s directive, according to ABC News. DOJ attorney Drew Ensign told the court he had ‘no details’ about the flights during a recess, despite the flights being in the air at that time. Judge Boasberg stated he would ‘get to the bottom of whether they violated my order.’ In a separate case, Judge Brian Murphy found the administration violated his order by rapidly removing eight migrants to countries where they had no ties. ICE also moved detainees between judicial districts to evade restraining orders, busing migrants from the Southern District of Texas to the Northern District to circumvent an active injunction. Detainees were given notices in English only, which many could not read. The DOJ argued the judge’s questions were ‘grave encroachments on core aspects of absolute and unreviewable Executive Branch authority’ and considered invoking the ‘state secrets privilege’ to avoid disclosure.
Key Figures
Institutions Involved
Sources
- Trump administration ignores judge’s order to turn deportation planes around - Sources
- Tensions mount as judge demands more answers about deportation flights
- Judge Boasberg voices skepticism over use of Alien Enemies Act deportations