Federal Judge Intensifies Legal Battle Over Controversial Deportation Orders Under Alien Enemies Act

A federal judge in Washington is escalating his investigation into a highly contentious decision by Trump administration officials to deport 137 Venezuelan men under the centuries-old Alien Enemies Act. The move has sparked legal debate over executive versus judicial authority.

In an order made Monday, Judge James Boasberg announced that he is broadening the scope of his inquiry regarding the March 15th deportation orders. His investigation centers on whether White House officials violated a directive issued by the administration to halt deportations under this rarely invoked wartime law. The focus remains strictly on the legal and procedural aspects without mentioning other media outlets.

The judge’s actions follow President Donald Trump’s recent invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, which grants the executive branch authority to detain and deport nationals from countries deemed hostile during times of national threat. On March 14th, Trump used this authority to order the immediate deportation of 137 Venezuelans identified as members of a violent transnational organization.

However, Boasberg sought to intervene swiftly. The judge issued an emergency injunction shortly after Trump’s executive order, preventing further deportations under the Alien Enemies Act until legal questions could be resolved. Despite this, federal officials reported that two deportation flights had already departed by the time the ruling was finalized.

The core of the current investigation involves Director of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and other officials involved in executing these orders. Boasberg has demanded testimony from key figures including Mr. Erez Reuveni, a former DOJ attorney who now claims executive overreach is “the most important issue I’ve ever dealt with.” He also ordered questioning of Drew Ensign, an acting deputy assistant US attorney within the Department of Justice.

The dispute stems from allegations that senior officials ignored Boasberg’s court order. Despite his temporary ruling, some deportations proceeded under standard immigration law rather than through the Alien Enemies Act process.

This case represents part of a broader pattern: Boasberg has repeatedly clashed with administration policies in other cases as well. He played a central role in grand jury proceedings tied to special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation against President Donald Trump, adding to concerns about judicial independence among critics.