Trump’s Vicious Attack on the Judiciary

The Supreme Court of the United States Photo Credit: Getty Images

It’s nothing strange to hear Donald Trump doing another insane thing in the United States of America. But what he’s doing right now is just plain scary.

This morning, hundreds of mostly alleged gang members were deported from the United States to a prison in El Salvador on Sunday. The Trump administration used the “Alien Enemies Act” to do this. This was done even though a judge dutifully reviewed the case, blocked the administration’s ability to use the law, and verbally ordered any planes to turn back into the United States. 

The judge, James Boasberg, has important powers as a judge. As a member of the judiciary, he has a responsibility to prevent abuses by the executive and legislative branches. That includes recent deportations mandated by the President. 

Now, the administration claims that the planes were already leaving, but why do they refuse to listen to the judicial branch? The executive branch cannot simply turn a blind eye to the judicial branch. When the Supreme Court orders Congress or the White House to do something, they have to listen. It is the court’s job to decide all of this, and ignoring its power is only going to lead to bleaker prospects for the nation.

People may say that these people could be criminals, but they are entitled to due process. The administration cannot simply round up and then deport these criminals to harsh prisons without reasonable cause. This only opens up further twisting of these laws. If anyone can be considered a “predatory invader”, then whose job is it to define it? It seems to be President Trump himself who has taken charge. We’ve seen cases like that in Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian protestor who was arrested on “propaganda” charges. He is a perfectly legal citizen and still might be deported.

  Pam Bondi, Trump’s attorney general, also tried twisting one of the lawsuits against them. They claimed that the Tren de Aragua is represented by the ACLU. These are complete lies. The ACLU is to defend every American’s civil liberties. Everybody in this country deserves due process before their livelihoods can be destroyed. 

Having such an unchecked executive branch with a compliant Congress often means that the courts are victims’ last hope. The courts must grow a backbone and prepare to reject every single one of Donald Trump’s unjust executive actions. Do not allow him to expand the executive branch. But if the courts cannot stop it, then who or what is stopping him?  No one. 

I urge you today to advocate and speak out against this. Support the ACLU. Support other organizations that protect us. Support the real America.