Deportations of migrants are illegal   ( File photo )

Washington, March 19 (RHC)-- In Washington, D.C., a federal judge heard arguments from a Justice Department lawyer after the Trump administration defied the judge’s order Saturday to turn around two El Salvador-bound deportation flights carrying Venezuelan nationals and to ground a third plane that took off after the order was issued. 

During a contentious exchange, the Justice Department attorney repeatedly refused to answer many of Judge James Boasberg’s questions, claiming he was “not authorized” to do so. The case was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union.  

Speaking after the hearing, ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt called the situation a “constitutional crisis.”  Lee Gelernt: “At this point, it seems like the administration is simply walking into court and telling a federal court they can’t look at the evidence, they can’t stop what they’re doing, and we see constant public statements from administration officials criticizing federal judges, saying they don’t have authority.  I think we’re on dangerous ground here in the United States.”

Judge Boasberg set a deadline for the Justice Department to provide more information on the deportation flights, including how many people it believes are covered by the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which the Trump administration invoked to justify the deportations.  The Justice Department is now attempting to remove Judge Boasberg from the case altogether. 

Trump’s so-called border czar Tom Homan told Fox News the judge did not have authority over the planes because they were over international waters when his written order was issued.  Homan added: “I don’t care what the judges think.” 

Meanwhile, White House aide Stephen Miller appeared on CNN, falsely asserting the Trump administration has the right to violate court orders it disagrees with.

Stephen Miller: “What we are expecting is the Supreme Court to say what has always been the case, which is, when the president is using his powers as commander-in-chief, those determinations are not subject to judicial review. … How are you going to expel illegal alien invaders from our country who are raping little girls, who are murdering little girls, if each and every deportation has to be adjudicated in a district court judge? That means you have no country.  It means you have no sovereignty.  It means you have no future.”

[ SOURCE: DEMOCRACY NOW ]