Washington: A federal judge has extended the deadline for the Trump administration to turn over information regarding recent deportations or formally claim state secrets privilege to withhold the details.
US District Judge James Boasberg had initially required the Department of Justice (DOJ) to submit the information by noon today. However, in a last-minute ruling, he extended the deadline until Thursday at noon. The judge is seeking details about deportations carried out under the Alien Enemies Act last weekend and whether they complied with court orders.
Deportation Controversy
The deportations in question were conducted under the Alien Enemies Act, a law that grants the government broad powers to remove individuals from the country during wartime or national security threats. However, Boasberg had issued temporary restraining orders (TROs) to halt certain deportations, and now the court wants to determine if those orders were followed.
Boasberg emphasized that the government must provide factual information about the deportations so the court can assess compliance with the TROs. He noted that whether the orders were legally sound or later found flawed does not change the requirement to comply with them.
DOJ Argues Judge Overstepped
The Justice Department has pushed back against the court’s request, arguing that Judge Boasberg exceeded his authority when he attempted to block deportations last weekend. The DOJ contends that because the orders may have been legally flawed, the government should not have to comply with the judge’s demand for information.
Boasberg strongly rejected this argument, stating that the government does not have the right to ignore a court order simply because it believes the ruling is incorrect. He reminded the DOJ that the appropriate way to challenge a judicial decision is through the appeals process, not through disobedience.
State Secrets Privilege
A key issue in the case is whether the DOJ will invoke state secrets privilege to avoid revealing details about the deportations. This legal doctrine allows the government to withhold certain information if disclosing it would threaten national security.
Boasberg, however, questioned whether such a claim would be justified. In his four-page ruling, he stated that he is “unsure at this time how compliance with the order would jeopardize state secrets.” If the DOJ chooses to invoke the privilege, the judge has indicated that he will carefully evaluate whether the circumstances warrant such a claim.
Legal Battle Escalates
This case highlights the ongoing legal battles between the Trump administration and the judiciary over immigration policies. The Alien Enemies Act, rarely used in modern times, is now at the center of a significant dispute over executive power and the role of the courts in overseeing deportations.
With the extended deadline, the DOJ now has until Thursday to either provide the requested deportation details or invoke state secrets privilege. If the department fails to respond appropriately, further legal actions may follow.
Observers are closely watching this case, as it could have broader implications for executive authority, judicial oversight, and immigration enforcement in the United States.
