On February 4, 2025, protests erupted against Donald Trump's immigration policies, coinciding with a legal battle involving the Alien Enemies Act. Chief Judge James Boasberg issued a nationwide temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing deportations under the Act, following a lawsuit by the ACLU and Democracy Forward. Amid concerns over deportation flights to El Salvador and Honduras, the judge ordered planes in transit to return. The urgent legal actions reflected widespread dissent against the perceived misuse of wartime authority in immigration enforcement.
With a few final matters, the hearing is now over. Great job by the ACLU and partners in getting this lawsuit filed so quickly, and on Judge Boasberg for understanding the urgency. We'll have to watch to see whether the planes are turned around in time, as at least one is in the air now.
The United States is not at war, nor has it been invaded. The president's anticipated invocation of wartime authority - which is not needed to conduct lawful immigration enforcement operations - is the latest step in an accelerated attack on immigrants.
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