(NewsNation) — The federal judge locked in a dispute with the Trump administration over the deportation of alleged migrant gang members last weekend may be forced to use his authority against the Justice Department, a former court official says.
Chief U.S. District Judge William Boasberg on Friday held his latest hearing with government attorneys to determine whether authorities ignored his temporary order barring the migrant removals while parties argue in court whether Trump can do it under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
“I will get to the bottom of whether they violated my order, who ordered this and what the consequences will be,” Boasberg said Friday.
John E. Jones III, former chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, says Boasberg appears ready to “go off” after DOJ attorneys played “hide the ball” with him this week. He said the judge could deploy sanctions, contempt powers, monetary penalties or even order someone jailed, though he likely doesn’t want to go there.
“What he will do, and he has an obligation to do this as a judge, is to vindicate the order that he handed down, the injunction, and determine whether anybody violated that,” Jones told “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.”
William Brennan, a former Trump attorney who also appeared on “Vargas,” said the administration may have a legal basis in trying to invoke the Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants who are members of gangs. But he said the judiciary should be respected.
“Federal judges have immense power, and I think Judge Boasberg has been very good in being judicious in his response,” Brennan said.
Due process essential: Rep. Raskin
Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, says the Trump administration’s attempt to use the Alien Enemies Act to summarily deport alleged migrant gang members without due process is potentially dangerous for everyone.
“I don’t care how unpopular those people are, because if they can do it to them, they can do it to anybody,” he told “CUOMO.”