The DOJ is stepping in.
Washington, D.C. — A dramatic legal showdown is unfolding in the nation’s capital as Attorney General Pam Bondi, now serving under President Donald J. Trump, has filed an emergency appeal to block what she calls an unconstitutional court overreach that could endanger presidential authority and America’s national security.
At the center of this high-stakes fight is a controversial court order issued by Judge James Boasberg, who claims the Trump administration defied his ruling to halt deportation flights to El Salvador.
⚖️ Boasberg vs. Trump: The Battle Over Deportations
Boasberg, appointed under both President George W. Bush and President Obama, has challenged the Trump administration’s use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act — a powerful national security law that allows the U.S. to remove individuals deemed threats during times of conflict.
President Trump has used this statute to deport illegal foreign nationals to a secure megaprison in El Salvador, drawing praise from conservatives and criticism from activist judges.
Yet Boasberg insists that his order was violated when several deportation flights allegedly continued even after he ruled to stop them. Trump officials say otherwise — that the planes were already in the air, outside U.S. airspace, before his order took effect.
📌 Key Issue: Did the Trump administration knowingly violate a judge’s restraining order, or is this another case of judicial overreach?
✍️ Pam Bondi Responds: “This Is an Attack on Executive Power”
In a 27-page emergency appeal, Bondi argued that the court is violating the Constitution by trying to force the executive branch to investigate and potentially prosecute itself — a stunning breach of the separation of powers.
“The court cannot compel the Executive Branch to prosecute its own senior officials,” Bondi wrote, calling the judge’s actions “unconstitutional and unprecedented.”
Bondi emphasized:
- The administration fully complied with all Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs).
- No named plaintiffs or class members were removed after the second TRO.
- The court’s interpretation of the word “remove” is ambiguous and constantly shifting — making contempt charges legally unsound.
She warned that the court’s actions amount to judicial overreach, and urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to issue a stay and consider mandamus relief — essentially halting the lower court’s proceedings entirely.
🇺🇸 The DOJ Hits Back: “This Is a Power Grab”
A statement from the Department of Justice to Newsweek echoed Bondi’s concerns:
“Judge Boasberg has overstepped his bounds by trying to interfere with the President’s constitutional control over foreign policy. His attempt to assert authority in this matter amounts to a clear judicial overreach, and the Department of Justice will challenge it using every legal tool available.”
The administration has made it clear: foreign policy, immigration enforcement, and deportations are Executive Branch duties — not matters for activist judges.
👨⚖️ Judge Threatens Private Prosecutor if DOJ Refuses
In a move that raised even more eyebrows, Judge Boasberg has hinted he may appoint a private attorney to prosecute the contempt charges himself — a move Bondi says would dangerously blur the lines between the judicial and executive branches.
Legal experts warn this could create a precedent where judges override elected leaders in matters of national security.
🔍 What’s Next: Will the Supreme Court Step In?
Legal observers now believe this case could quickly rise to the Supreme Court, setting the stage for a landmark decision on the limits of judicial interference and the balance of power in Washington.
Former prosecutor Joyce Vance speculated the government may delay its response — unless President Trump decides to act swiftly.
“There are a lot of twists and turns ahead,” she noted. “It’s unclear who gave the final order. If the government is smart, it will cure the contempt to avoid that inquiry.”
💬 What Do You Think?
Is Judge Boasberg overstepping his role? Should the courts be allowed to interfere with Trump’s deportation policies?