By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-03-27 16:01:53 | Updated at 2025-04-06 15:31:40
1 week ago
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took a cue from President Trump and attacked a 'radical' judge who ruled against the administration on its move to use a 200-year-old law to deport alleged gang members.
Leavitt spoke after a federal appeals court panel in D.C. ruled against the administration in a 2-1 decision, setting up a battle that could go to the Supreme Court.
'I understand that a radical judge at the appeals court has denied the president and our legal team in the case agains the Alien Enemies Act. But we are going to continue to forge ahead in the court,' she told Fox & Friends Thursday morning.
It wasn't clear which judge she was referencing, in the case where Team Trump wanted to lift a lower court judge's order putting a pause on deportations under the law. Trump on Thursday attacked that judge, James Boasberg, as well.
The prevailing side included Judge Patricia Millett, an Obama appointee, and Judge Karen Henderson, a George H.W. Bush appointee. Dissenting was Trump appointee Justin Walker.
Millett complained that migrants got deported 'with no notice, no hearing, no opportunity -- zero process -- to show that they are not members of the gang.'
'If the government can choose to abandon fair and equal process for some people, it can do the same for everyone,' she warned.
During a hearing this week, Millett said 'Nazis got better treatment' from the government under the Alien Enemies Act.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted a 'radical judge' at a U.S. appeals court panel that ruled 2-1 against the administration in a case on the use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act for deportations
Lawyers for several of the people who were deported have denied gang associations and pushed back on claims that their tattoos established their membership.
Leavitt then tore into a group she called 'activist' judges, hours after she used the White House podium to go after Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg and bringing up his wife's party registration and campaign contributions.
'And think about how insane it is that we have a Democrat party and we have Democrat activists who are judges in our judicial branch who are fighting against this administration from deporting these heinous individuals. If we have a country where the President of the United States, where the commander in chief cannot deport foreign terrorists and illegal aliens, the American people are in a lot of trouble,' she said.
Leavitt spoke on a morning when Trump tore into Boasberg, who issued a temporary restraining order in the Enemies Act Case, after he was assigned another prominent case, this one dealing with a watchdog who is suing over the Signal chat fiasco where journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently added to the group chat where officials discussed a plan to attack the Houthis.
'How disgraceful is it that “Judge” James Boasberg has just been given a fourth “Trump Case,” something which is, statistically, IMPOSSIBLE. There is no way for a Republican, especially a TRUMP REPUBLICAN, to win before him. He is Highly Conflicted, not only in his hatred of me — Massive Trump Derangement Syndrome! — but also, because of disqualifying family conflicts,' Trump fumed.
Homeland Security Kristi Noem speaks during a tour of the Terrorist Confinement Center (CECOT) as prisoners stand, looking out from a cell, in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on March 26, 2025
Leavitt blasted a 'radical judge' at the appeals court. A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 against the administration, with Obama appointee Patricia Millett and Karen Henderson, a George H.W. Bush, ruling against the administration
Trump and his allies have called for Boasberg's impeachment, prompting brushback from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
Cases are assigned at random in the D.C. court system, where Boasberg serves as chief judge. Trump ally Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has also gone after Boasberg for his service on a special intelligence court during the start of the probe of Trump 2016 campaign contacts and Russia.
The president has a long history of attacking judges who have ruled against him, including during the Stormy Daniels hush money trial in Manhattan.
The administration sent two planeloads full of migrants that officials said were members of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to a notorious Salvadoran prison March 15.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, and delivered remarks in front of jailed, shirtless inmates.
'If an immigrant commits a crime, 'this is one of the consequences you could face,' Noem said. 'First of all, do not come to our country illegally. You will be removed and you will be prosecuted.
'But know that this facility is one of the tools in our toolkit that we will use if you commit crimes against the American people.'
