Judge Issues “Show Cause” Order to DOJ About Deportation Flights to El Salvador

Federal District Court Judge James “Jeb” Boasberg issued an order that Donald Trump’s regime must show cause regarding why the government’s failure to turn the flights around did not violate his court to return them.

Boesberg had ordered flights to El Salvador containing Venezuelan immigrants to be turned around while the court considers a legal challenge to their deportation. The Trump regime alleged the Venezuelans are members of a notorious gang and invoked wartime powers under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport them without due process. That law has only been invoked three times, always during a war. The USA is not at war.

Government attorneys had until noon to provide more details to Boasberg or formally claim details cannot be provided because they would harm “state secrets.” The lawyers responded by calling that an “unnecessary judicial fishing” expedition.

Boasberg called that response “woefully insufficient” and issued his “show cause” order.

This order increases the possibility that Boesberg might hold officials in contempt of court.

Boasberg set a Friday deadline for Trump’s regime to submit a sworn declaration by someone “with direct involvement in the Cabinet-level discussions” about whether state secrets privilege applies to his information request. He set a Tuesday deadline for court to be informed of whether Trump’s regime will invoke such privilege.

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