Justice Department Stonewalls Federal Judge Over Deportation Flights

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Justice Department Stonewalls Federal Judge Over Deportation Flights

The Trump administration tried to have the hearing canceled and sought to remove the judge overseeing it, as White House officials took a confrontational stance.


Judge James E. Boasberg directed a Justice Department lawyer to inform him by noon on Tuesday exactly what time the government believes his order stopping the deportation flights went into effect. Erin Schaff/The New York Times

By Alan Feuer and Zolan Kanno-Youngs
Alan Feuer reported from New York and Zolan Kanno-Youngs from Washington.
March 17, 2025
Updated 8:39 p.m. ET

The Trump administration on Monday stonewalled a federal judge seeking answers about whether the government had violated his order by deporting more than 200 people over the weekend, including those officials identified as members of a Venezuelan criminal gang.

The hearing in Federal District Court in Washington escalated a conflict between the White House and the courts that threatened to become a constitutional crisis.

A Justice Department lawyer refused to answer any detailed questions about the deportation flights to El Salvador, arguing that President Trump had broad authority to remove immigrants from the United States with little to no due process under an obscure wartime law known as the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

The tense back-and-forth in court between the judge, James E. Boasberg, and the Justice Department lawyer, Abhishek Kambli, left open the possibility of further conflict down the road. Judge Boasberg directed Mr. Kambli to certify in writing by noon on Tuesday — under seal if needed — that no immigrants were removed after his written order went into effect, a piece of information that will be crucial as the judge seeks to determine whether the Trump administration flouted his authority.

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Tom Homan, President Trump’s so-called border czar, indicated that the administration planned to continue such deportations despite the court’s order. Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times

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Alan Feuer covers extremism and political violence for The Times, focusing on the criminal cases involving the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and against former President Donald J. Trump. More about Alan Feuer

Zolan Kanno-Youngs is a White House correspondent for The Times, covering President Trump and his administration. More about Zolan Kanno-Youngs