The White House announced on March 19th that large-scale deportations will continue despite a court’s block on deporting illegal immigrants by air under the Enemy Nationals Act (AEA). White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt addressed the situation in a briefing, confirming that “there are no specifically planned flights” to destinations like El Salvador while the case remains in court, but also reiterated that deportations would persist.
Earlier, on March 15th, Judge James Vosberg of the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C. ordered a temporary halt to the Trump administration’s efforts to deport hundreds of Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador by labelling them members of a criminal organization. The ruling also stated that deported individuals must be returned to the U.S., even if their flights had already taken off. Despite the court’s order, the Trump administration proceeded with deportations to El Salvador. On March 18th, President Trump directly criticized Judge Vosberg, calling for his impeachment.
In response, Chief Justice John Roberts issued an unusual statement, dismissing the impeachment suggestion as inappropriate. The conflict between the executive and judicial branches is now intensifying. Meanwhile, the White House has signalled its intent to continue the large-scale deportations, which have been a central focus of President Trump’s campaign. Levitt stated, “The president has made it clear that the judge should be impeached and has expressed great respect for Chief Justice Roberts,” but stressed that the president believes the Supreme Court must address what he described as activist judges.
Levitt also pointed out that Judge Vosberg, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, was part of a broader pattern in which Democratic-appointed judges have issued injunctions against Trump’s policies. She argued, “60% of the injunctions issued by partisan activists in the judiciary this century were against President Trump, and 92% of them were issued by Democratic judges.” Levitt framed these actions as part of a larger coordinated effort by the left to oppose the president’s policies.
The White House spokesperson further criticized Judge Vosberg, claiming that his ruling represented an abuse of power, especially as Vosberg’s wife had donated more than $10,000 to the Democratic Party. Levitt emphasized that despite complying with the court’s order, the White House would appeal the decision, and that the Justice Department and White House counsel are studying the case with the intention of eventually taking it to the Supreme Court.