President Trump has defied a federal judge's order by deporting over 200 alleged Venezuelan gang members, sparking a major constitutional showdown between the executive and judicial branches.

The confrontation began when Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport Venezuelan nationals suspected of gang affiliation. D.C. District Judge James Boasberg issued an emergency restraining order on March 15, 2025, blocking this action. Despite the order, the administration proceeded to deport more than 200 alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang to El Salvador within 24 hours.

The Alien Enemies Act allows presidents to detain, deport, or restrict movements of foreign nationals from hostile nations during wartime. Trump's unprecedented use of this act during peacetime has raised serious constitutional concerns.

In response, Congressman Brandon Gill (R-TX) has initiated impeachment proceedings against Judge Boasberg, characterizing the ruling as an obstruction of national security. Tech mogul Elon Musk has publicly supported this move, arguing that blocking the deportation of suspected criminals threatens public safety.

The 238 deportees have been transferred to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) for a minimum one-year period. This situation has triggered multiple responses:

• Legal experts anticipate extensive court battles over presidential authority
• Congressional Republicans are supporting efforts to limit judicial oversight of immigration enforcement
• Immigration advocacy groups are preparing legal challenges citing due process violations

This unprecedented clash between executive authority and judicial oversight represents one of the most significant constitutional challenges in recent U.S. history, with implications for both immigration policy and the separation of powers.

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