Trump calls for impeachment of judge whose ruling he disliked
U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded the removal of a federal judge who suspended an authorization—typically used only during wartime—that accelerated the deportation of immigrants allegedly linked to a Venezuelan gang.
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In a statement on his Truth Social account, Trump targeted Washington D.C. District Judge James Boasberg, who blocked the decision to invoke this authorization.
Describing Boasberg as a "troublemaker and provocateur," Trump argued that former U.S. President Barack Obama, who appointed the federal judge, was not as successful in elections as he was, stating, "I won by a landslide for many reasons, but fighting illegal immigration may be the number one reason for this historic success. I am doing what the voters want."
Trump said, "Like the other crooked judges I have to appear before, this judge (Boasberg) should be impeached. We do not want savage, violent, deranged criminals, most of whom are mentally ill murderers, in our country. Make America Great Again."
According to reports in the U.S. press, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts reacted to Trump's post.
Roberts stated, "For over two centuries, it has been known that the appropriate response to disagreements with judicial rulings is not impeachment. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose."
WARTIME LAW
U.S. President Trump had previously invoked an authorization used only during wartime to accelerate the deportation of immigrants linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
The "Alien Enemies Act" of 1798, which Trump invoked, grants the president extraordinary powers to target and deport undocumented immigrants.
The law in question was used during the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II to deport "active enemy aliens."
Trump's executive order stated that the organization in question was defined as a "foreign terrorist organization" and provided for the apprehension and immediate deportation of individuals allegedly linked to this gang.
Meanwhile, Washington D.C. District Judge Boasberg had temporarily suspended the powers in question hours after the decision.
Despite the federal judge's stay of execution, the U.S. administration deported more than 250 irregular migrants, alleging they were linked to the Venezuelan gang, and sent them to El Salvador.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had stated, "The administration did not refuse to comply with the court order. This decision, which has no legal basis, was issued after the members of (the Venezuelan gang) Tren de Aragua had already been removed from U.S. soil."