U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the removal of federal judge James Boasberg after he ruled against the administration’s migrant deportation orders. Trump escalated his conflict with the judiciary by labeling Boasberg, an Obama-era appointee, as an “unelected and problematic agitator” on his Truth Social platform.
Boasberg had previously blocked deportation flights, prompting Trump to invoke the rarely used 1798 Alien Enemies Act, claiming it remains valid due to the alleged infiltration of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua into the U.S. His administration has been paying El Salvador to detain suspected gang members.
Despite Boasberg’s verbal order to halt deportations, two flights to El Salvador proceeded, leading to a legal standoff. Trump’s lawyers argued that the judge’s written ruling lacked clarity, while civil rights advocates warned that the situation is approaching a constitutional crisis.
While Congress has the power to impeach judges, it remains an uncommon move, with only 15 judges impeached in U.S. history, and just eight removed. The last impeachment occurred in 2010 when a judge was ousted for bribery and perjury. Given the narrow Republican majority in the House and the two-thirds Senate vote required for removal, Trump’s demand faces significant political hurdles.
