Judge Who Tried to Ground Migrant Gang Flights Hit With Impeachment

A Republican lawmaker in the House has introduced impeachment articles against the federal judge who halted the Trump administration's deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act, according to an exclusive Fox News report on Monday.

"For the past several weeks, we've seen several rogue activist judges try to impede the president from exercising, not only the mandate voters gave him, but his democratic and constitutional authority to keep the American people safe," stated Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, in an interview with Fox News Digital. "This is another example of a rogue judge overstepping his...authority."

Gill's resolution alleges that U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg overstepped his judicial authority by issuing an emergency order that temporarily halted the Trump administration’s deportation of illegal immigrants under a wartime statute dating back to 1798. President Donald Trump recently invoked the law to remove individuals linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua from the U.S.

"Chief Judge Boasberg required President Trump to turn around planes midair that had aliens associated with Tren De Aragua, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization," the resolution states. "This conduct jeopardizes the safety of the nation, represents an abuse of judicial power, and is detrimental to the orderly functioning of the judiciary. Using the powers of his office, Chief Judge Boasberg has attempted to seize power from the Executive Branch and interfere with the will of the American people."

Before officially filing the resolution, Gill spoke with Fox News Digital and signaled his intent for the matter to proceed through traditional House channels, beginning with the House Judiciary Committee, where he is a member.

"I'll be talking to [Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio] about it," Gill said. "I think the best way to do this...is to go through the judiciary committee, which is where impeachment of judges runs through. I think the more we can stick with that plan, the better."

A legal standoff has escalated since Judge Boasberg issued a temporary 14-day restraining order on Saturday night, blocking the Trump administration’s plans to deport individuals affiliated with Tren de Aragua. The ruling followed challenges from human rights organizations that argued Venezuelan nationals with legitimate asylum claims could be mistakenly deported despite lacking any connection to the gang.

Gill, who serves as class president for first-term representatives in the 119th Congress, first suggested on Sunday that he would file impeachment articles against Boasberg. Trump endorsed the move on Tuesday morning in a post on his Truth Social account.

Trump referred to Boasberg as a "Radical Left Lunatic of a Judge, a troublemaker and agitator," adding, "HE DIDN’T WIN ANYTHING! I WON FOR MANY REASONS, IN AN OVERWHELMING MANDATE, BUT FIGHTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MAY HAVE BEEN THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR THIS HISTORIC VICTORY."

"I'm just doing what the VOTERS wanted me to do. This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!!" Trump wrote.

Gill contended that Boasberg was deliberately "tying the president’s hands so that Trump and his team, instead of executing on the mandate the voters gave him, are litigating every single action that the president is taking." He described this as "unconstitutional" and a "usurpation of executive authority."

The Trump administration noted that Boasberg’s written order was issued after two planes carrying suspected gang members had already departed, arguing that it was impossible to recall them at that stage. A third plane, which departed later, was not carrying any deportees subject to the Alien Enemies Act, according to administration officials.

"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," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday, emphasizing that the administration did not violate any judicial directive.

However, during a hearing later that day, Boasberg challenged the administration's stance. According to The Associated Press, he questioned the U.S. attorney representing the administration, stating, "I'm just asking how you think my equitable powers do not attach to a plane that has departed the U.S., even if it's in international airspace."