White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt says the court docket’s order lacked authorized foundation and was issued after the flights left U.S. territory.
The White Home stated on Sunday that deportation flights carrying Venezuelan immigrants suspected of being members of the Tren de Aragua prison gang—a U.S.-designated terrorist group—didn’t battle with a decide’s order that blocked such actions as a result of the ruling was issued after the flights had already left U.S. territory.
“The Administration didn’t ‘refuse to conform’ with a court docket order,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated in a press release.
“A single decide in a single metropolis can’t direct the actions of an plane … stuffed with international alien terrorists who have been bodily expelled from U.S. soil.”
Leavitt stated the ruling had “no lawful foundation” and that federal courts don’t have any jurisdiction over the president’s conduct of international affairs.
When requested whether or not his administration had violated the court docket order, President Donald Trump deferred to the attorneys.
“I can let you know this: these have been dangerous individuals,” Trump instructed reporters aboard Air Drive One, referring to the alleged gang members.
Boasberg issued a second order later that day, giving all noncitizens who would in any other case be topic to the presidential proclamation a category motion certification.
The ruling got here in response to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU and Democracy Ahead, representing the 5 plaintiffs, who had argued that the Alien Enemies Act “plainly solely applies to warlike actions.”
“It can’t be used right here in opposition to nationals of a rustic—Venezuela—with whom the USA shouldn’t be at conflict, which isn’t invading the USA, and which has not launched a predatory incursion into the USA,” the grievance reads.
She acknowledged that these people “have been extracted and eliminated to El Salvador the place they are going to now not be capable to pose any risk to the American Folks.”
“TDA [Tren de Aragua] is among the most violent and ruthless terrorist gangs on planet earth. They rape, maim and homicide for sport,” Leavitt stated.
Trump’s proclamation states that many members of the Tren de Aragua gang have “unlawfully infiltrated the USA and are conducting irregular warfare and endeavor hostile actions” in opposition to the nation.
Jacob Burg, Ryan Morgan, and Reuters contributed to this report.