WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is pushing back against a federal judge’s request for more details on deportation flights to El Salvador, arguing that the court is overstepping its authority and interfering with executive branch decisions.
The legal standoff stems from the Trump administration’s use of an 18th-century wartime law to justify mass deportations—an order that U.S. District Judge Jeb Boasberg temporarily blocked. The judge had demanded specifics on flight schedules and the number of deportees, questioning whether the government had violated his injunction.
In a court filing Wednesday, Justice Department lawyers accused the judge of encroaching on “absolute and unreviewable” executive authority, particularly in matters of national security and foreign relations. They suggested invoking the “state secrets privilege” to withhold certain information.
Boasberg had ordered the administration to halt deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, a rarely used 1798 law. But hours later, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele confirmed that deportees had already landed, mocking the judge’s order with a social media post that read: “Oopsie… too late.”
The White House later confirmed that 261 individuals had been deported, including 137 under Trump’s proclamation. However, the administration insists that the judiciary has no right to challenge the president’s decisions on national security.
As tensions escalate between the White House and the courts, this case could set a major precedent for executive power in immigration enforcement.
