White House insists all deportation flights took off before judge's order

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg temporarily barred the administration from using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport illegal immigrants.

Published: March 17, 2025 1:38pm

The White House on Monday insisted that all of the deportation flights to El Salvador and Honduras that were subject to a district court order left the U.S. prior to its issuance.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg temporarily barred the administration from using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport illegal immigrants. He has since called a hearing demanding that the White House explain why it did not turn around the flights.

"All of the planes that were subject to the written order the judge's written order took off before the order was entered in the courtroom on Saturday, and the administration will, of course, be happily answering all of those questions that the judge poses in court later today, and for people who have due process questions about making certain that there wasn't anyone who was swept up who did not meet the criteria that you laid out," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday.

The hearing is set for 5 p.m. on Monday.

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