Washington, March 23 - Officials from the Trump administration defended their controversial use of extraordinary war powers to deport a significant number of Venezuelan migrants on Sunday. This defense comes despite a federal judge blocking the deportations and the Venezuelan government denying claims made by U.S. officials that the deported individuals were associated with gangs.
During an appearance on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures program, Attorney General Pam Bondi asserted that the administration's actions were necessary for the safety of American citizens. "It's modern-day warfare, and we are going to continue to fight that and protect American citizens every single step of the way," Bondi stated, emphasizing the administration's commitment to national security.
According to Bondi, the decision to deport 137 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador last weekend was justified, as these individuals were allegedly members of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang. She claimed that their presence posed a significant safety risk to the United States.
In stark contrast, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello refuted the U.S. claims on Friday, asserting that none of the deportees were affiliated with the gang designated by Washington as a terrorist organization. Furthermore, relatives and immigration advocates for some of the deported individuals have also denied any connections to criminal activities.
The Trump administration utilized the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law, to facilitate these deportations, arguing that the migrants were involved in violent crimes and sending money back to Venezuela. Mike Waltz, the White House National Security Advisor, appeared on CBS's Face the Nation, asserting—without providing evidence—that Tren de Aragua acted as a proxy for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government. "The alien sedition act fully applies because we have also determined that this group is acting as a proxy of the Maduro regime," Waltz stated.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg indicated on Friday that he would continue investigating whether the Trump administration violated his previous order, which temporarily blocked the use of the Alien Enemies Act for deportations. The administration has until March 25 to respond to Boasberg's request for more information regarding the deportations.
Some legal scholars view this situation as a potential escalation in President Donald Trump's confrontational approach toward the judiciary, raising concerns about a possible constitutional crisis. Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, stated on ABC News' This Week that while he would not defy Boasberg's order, the administration would persist in arresting migrants deemed dangerous. "We're going to continue to arrest public safety threats and national security threats," Homan declared, emphasizing their focus on the "worst of the worst."
Bondi criticized Boasberg for what she described as interference with the Trump administration's policies. "This is an out-of-control judge, a federal judge trying to control our entire foreign policy," she asserted. Furthermore, Boasberg expressed concern during a recent hearing that he could not recall any previous instance where government lawyers had addressed him in such a manner as the Trump administration did in this case, though he did not elaborate on his specific grievances.
In her remarks, Bondi escalated her critiques of federal judges, claiming that many were attempting to hinder the president's policy initiatives. "We are in court every day, fighting against these activist judges. We're not going to stop," she insisted, adding that many of them should be recused from ongoing cases, a sentiment she reiterated strongly.
This unfolding situation continues to highlight the contentious relationship between the Trump administration and the judiciary, raising significant questions about the balance of power in the United States.
