A US federal judge has criticised the Trump administration’s deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members, declaring that "Nazis got better treatment" from the United States during World War II, AFP reported.
On 15 March, President Donald Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act (AEA), a rarely used wartime law, to deport two plane-loads of Venezuelan migrants to a prison in El Salvador. However, Chief Judge James Boasberg of the US District Court in Washington issued a restraining order the same day, temporarily halting further deportations under the AEA.
The Justice Department is now seeking to overturn the ruling, with a three-judge panel from the US Court of Appeals hearing arguments on Monday. Justice Department attorney Drew Ensign described the order as an “unprecedented and enormous intrusion upon the powers of the executive branch.”
However, Judge Patricia Millett pushed back, arguing that the issue was not Trump’s authority but the denial of due process for deportees. "Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemies Act," she stated, pointing out that World War II-era deportations included hearings, unlike those carried out by the Trump administration.
The controversial case, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), alleges that Venezuelans were targeted for deportation based on tattoos, with no evidence they were members of the Tren de Aragua gang. Lee Gelernt, representing the ACLU, warned that if the restraining order is lifted, deportations under the AEA would resume immediately.
The situation has sparked legal concerns over the administration’s compliance with court orders, raising fears of a constitutional crisis. Meanwhile, Trump has publicly attacked Judge Boasberg and even suggested his impeachment, prompting rare public criticism from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
Despite the legal battle, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced plans to send three alleged Tren de Aragua members to Chile under the AEA, stating the Justice Department was "acting within the bounds of the law to ensure justice."