Obama Judge Halts Deportation of Violent Tren de Aragua Gang Members by President Trump’s Administration: Orders Deportation Flights in Progress to Return

A judge appointed by former President Barack Obama has issued an urgent order for the Trump administration to cease the deportation of members of the violent Tren de Aragua gang.

James E. “Jeb” Boasberg became a Chief Judge of the District Court on March 17, 2023.

The directive also mandates that any planes currently deporting these individuals must return to the United States immediately.

A judge appointed by the Obama administration has issued a temporary restraining order compelling the immediate halt of the deportation of Tren de Aragua gang members from the United States, who are central to President Trump’s deportation initiative. This judicial intervention requires that any such deportation flights currently underway must turn back, signaling a complex intersection of immigration policy and judicial power.

The decision represents a modest triumph for advocates opposing the deportation, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The order stems from the use by President Trump of the Alien Enemies Act to target and remove gang members identified as threats to public safety due to their illegal status in the U.S.

During a hearing, Judge Boasberg disclosed his intentions, stating his aim to “prevent the removal of all non-citizens detained under the Alien Enemies Act,” citing potential persecution faced by deportees in Venezuela. The hearing underscored the balancing act between the enforcement of immigration laws and the protection of individuals against potential harm in their home countries.

The ruling arrives soon after President Trump reiterated his commitment to using the Alien Enemies Act to ensure the removal of violent foreign gang members. This legal battle highlights the tension between executive authority in immigration enforcement and the judiciary’s role in ensuring legal protections and human rights are not overlooked, setting the stage for further legal challenges and potential changes in immigration policy.