The Trump administration’s aggressive deportation campaign has sparked a legal and political standoff as courts move to block removals, while top officials, including Border Czar Tom Homan, vow to press ahead regardless of judicial rulings. In a fiery interview with Fox News on Monday, Homan made it clear that legal challenges would not deter the administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants, particularly those with alleged ties to criminal organizations.
“We’re not stopping,” Homan declared. “I don’t care what the judges think. I don’t care what the left thinks. We’re coming.”
The administration’s controversial use of the Alien Enemies Act, a rarely invoked 18th-century law last used during World War II, has led to mass deportations, including the removal of approximately 300 alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to El Salvador. A federal judge, Chief U.S. Judge James Boasberg in Washington, D.C., attempted to halt the flights over the weekend, ordering that planes carrying suspected gang members be turned back. However, administration officials insist the deportations were carried out before the ruling took effect.
Legal experts and human rights advocates argue that the government is bypassing due process, and deporting individuals without fair hearings. Critics say that applying the Alien Enemies Act in this manner is legally dubious and raises serious constitutional questions. Democratic lawmakers have been vocal in their opposition, with four Senate Judiciary Committee members releasing a joint statement condemning the actions. “We are not at war, and immigrants are not invading our country,” the statement read. “Courts determine whether people have broken the law — not a president acting alone, and not immigration agents picking and choosing who gets imprisoned or deported.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration’s handling of the deportations, revealing that the U.S. government paid El Salvador $6 million to accept 261 alleged Venezuelan gang members over the weekend. She also argued that the administration complied with Boasberg’s order since the deportations were completed before the judge’s written ruling was issued. When questioned about Boasberg’s verbal order to halt deportations, Leavitt cast doubt on whether verbal directives hold the same legal weight as written rulings.
Homan, who personally oversaw the deportations, insisted that the removals were justified and necessary to protect public safety. He described the deportees as dangerous criminals and gang members, accusing them of engaging in organized crime and illegal activity within the United States. “We removed terrorists. That should be a celebration,” Homan told reporters outside the White House. “We removed terrorists from this country. I stand by what the president did.”
When pressed on how individuals were identified as terrorists, Homan stated that multiple law enforcement agencies had contributed to the vetting process. “Through various investigations,” he said but declined to elaborate, citing law enforcement sensitivities. He did mention that criminal records, social media activity, and foreign intelligence played a role in determining deportation eligibility.
The administration’s use of expedited deportations under the Alien Enemies Act has drawn widespread scrutiny. This law, which dates back to 1798, was originally intended to allow the president to detain or expel nationals of enemy countries during times of war. Its last major use was during World War II, when individuals of Japanese, German, and Italian descent were detained and deported. Immigration advocates argue that using the act against suspected gang members rather than enemy combatants represents a dangerous expansion of executive power.
As the legal battle continues, the Trump administration remains steadfast in its enforcement efforts. Homan indicated that additional deportation flights are already in the pipeline. When asked what was next, he responded bluntly: “Another flight. Another flight every day.”
Homan also emphasized that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents would continue daily operations, targeting suspected criminal aliens. “They’re not going to stop us,” he said, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to mass deportations despite mounting legal opposition.
The ongoing tension between the judiciary and the executive branch over immigration policy underscores a broader fight over the limits of presidential authority. While the administration maintains that its actions are necessary for national security, critics argue that bypassing the courts in deportation cases undermines the rule of law and due process.
The controversy surrounding these deportations is expected to escalate in the coming weeks as more court challenges arise. Immigration rights groups and civil liberties organizations are preparing lawsuits to challenge the administration’s broad use of the Alien Enemies Act. If successful, such challenges could set significant legal precedents limiting presidential power in immigration enforcement.
For now, the Trump administration appears undeterred. With more deportation flights planned and ongoing conflicts with the courts, the fight over America’s immigration policies is far from over. The coming weeks will be a critical test of whether the judiciary can rein in the administration’s aggressive deportation policies or whether the White House will continue to push the boundaries of executive authority in immigration enforcement.
