Federal Judge Condemns Trump Administration’s Deportation Tactics, Drawing Nazi Comparison
A U.S. federal judge has sharply criticized the Trump administration’s deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members, stating that “Nazis got better treatment” from the U.S. during World War II, according to an AFP report. The rebuke came amid an ongoing legal battle over the administration’s use of a centuries-old wartime law to deport migrants without due process.
On March 15, President Donald Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act (AEA)—a rarely used statute—to deport two planeloads of Venezuelan migrants to a prison in El Salvador. The same day, Chief Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court in Washington issued a restraining order temporarily blocking further AEA deportations.
The Justice Department has since moved to overturn the ruling, with a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals hearing arguments on Monday. Justice Department attorney Drew Ensign called the restraining order an “unprecedented and enormous intrusion upon the powers of the executive branch.”
However, Judge Patricia Millett countered that the core issue was not presidential authority but the denial of basic legal protections for deportees. “Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemies Act,” she remarked, noting that World War II-era deportations included hearings—a safeguard absent in the Trump administration’s approach.
The case, brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), alleges that Venezuelans were targeted for deportation based solely on tattoos, without evidence linking them to the Tren de Aragua gang. ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt warned that lifting the restraining order would allow immediate resumption of AEA deportations.
The dispute has raised broader concerns about the administration’s adherence to judicial orders, with some legal experts warning of a potential constitutional crisis. Trump has publicly attacked Judge Boasberg and even suggested impeaching him—a move that drew rare public criticism from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
Despite the legal challenges, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced plans to deport three alleged Tren de Aragua members to Chile under the AEA, asserting that the Justice Department was “acting within the bounds of the law to ensure justice.”
The case highlights escalating tensions between the judiciary and executive branch over immigration enforcement, with profound implications for due process and presidential power.
