U.S. District Judge James Boasberg is set to hold a crucial court hearing on Thursday, where he will examine new allegations surrounding the Trump administration’s use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans to El Salvador. The hearing comes after Boasberg previously issued an order blocking the administration’s use of the law, which led to a major legal battle and Supreme Court intervention. The judge’s decision could reignite a contentious court fight that has already drawn significant attention and criticism from both sides.
Boasberg did not immediately signal which motions he would consider during the hearing, but the court case has been a focal point of legal contention throughout the year. The judge’s initial order on March 15 temporarily blocked Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to quickly deport hundreds of Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador, prompting widespread legal challenges and ultimately leading to multiple Supreme Court rulings declaring the rapid removals as violating due process under the U.S. Constitution.
The legal saga has now entered a new phase as the judge faces new motions from plaintiffs seeking to reopen limited discovery. These motions include submissions from a recent U.N. report outlining Salvadoran officials’ assertion that the U.S. holds sole legal responsibility and custody over migrants transferred to CECOT, as well as a whistleblower report from former Justice Department attorney Erez Reuveni, who worked on the case before his removal.
Trump administration officials have repeatedly criticized Boasberg as an ‘activist judge,’ accusing him of obstructing their immigration policies. The term ‘activist judge’ has been used to describe judges who have paused or blocked Trump’s policy initiatives. Trump himself previously floated the idea of impeaching Boasberg, prompting warnings from Supreme Court Justice John Roberts.
Tensions between Boasberg and the Trump administration escalated earlier this year when the judge ruled that the administration had demonstrated a ‘willful disregard’ for his order to return the planes to U.S. soil. The Trump administration has since appealed the findings to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Additionally, Boasberg ordered the administration to provide all noncitizens deported to El Salvador’s maximum-security prison with the opportunity to seek habeas relief in court and challenge their alleged gang status. He emphasized the situation faced by individuals like Frengel Reyes Mota and Andry Jose Hernandez Romero, describing the circumstances they were placed in as a direct result of the administration’s actions.
With new reports and allegations coming to light, Thursday’s hearing is expected to be a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal battle. The outcome could have significant implications for both the Trump administration and the future of immigration policy, as it continues to navigate the complex legal landscape surrounding migrant deportations and due process rights.