Trump Calls for Impeachment of Judge Over Deportation Ruling

BY COMFORT OGBONNA

On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump called for the impeachment of U.S. District Judge James Boasberg after the judge ordered his administration to explain recent deportations of Venezuelans despite a temporary ban. Boasberg, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, had ruled that the Justice Department must clarify why deportation flights continued under a 1798 wartime law invoked by Trump.

In a Truth Social post, Trump lashed out at Boasberg, calling him a “far-left troublemaker and agitator,” and demanded his removal. “This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED,” Trump wrote, defending his actions as fulfilling the will of voters.

Since Trump’s return to office, congressional Republicans, billionaire Elon Musk, and other allies have increasingly attacked the judiciary, calling for judges’ impeachments over rulings that hinder administration policies. These attacks have coincided with rising security concerns for federal judges, with U.S. Marshals warning of heightened threats.

Boasberg’s ruling came after the administration claimed it deported members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, labeling them as national security threats. Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify their removal, arguing the gang was waging “irregular warfare” against the U.S. However, the administration did not clarify when this declaration was made or when deportation flights began.

A Department of Homeland Security official admitted in a court filing that many deported Venezuelans had no criminal records in the U.S., though some had pending charges domestically or convictions abroad. Civil rights groups, including the ACLU, challenged Trump’s claims, accusing his administration of exaggerating threats to justify aggressive deportation policies.

The legal battle over these deportations could escalate into a constitutional clash over executive power, as Trump continues to push the boundaries of presidential authority while attacking judges who oppose his decisions.