The Alien Enemies Act deportation campaign
← All timelinesA wartime law invoked for migrants, then repeatedly rejected by courts
The administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants without standard hearings -- its invocation, contested flights, a foreign mega-prison arrangement, and a string of court rulings against the theory, followed by a new procedural workaround.
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Mar 14, 2025 · Immigration, Detention & Civil Rights · ConfirmedAlien Enemies Act Invoked for Peacetime Mass Deportations
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Mar 15, 2025 · Constitutional Order & Rule of Law · Well supportedDeportation Flights Continue During an Emergency Court Dispute
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Mar 15, 2025 · Immigration, Detention & Civil Rights · ConfirmedU.S. Pays El Salvador to Jail Deportees in Mega-Prison
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Mar 17, 2025 · Constitutional Order & Rule of Law · ConfirmedBorder Czar Homan Says "I Don't Care What the Judges Think"
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Mar 18, 2025 · Constitutional Order & Rule of Law · ConfirmedTrump Demands Judge Boasberg's Impeachment and Chief Justice Roberts Responds
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Mar 24, 2025 · Constitutional Order & Rule of Law · ConfirmedJustice Department Invokes State Secrets Rather Than Answer a Judge's Questions About the Deportation FlightsLegal outcome State secrets privilege asserted; questions unanswered
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Apr 16, 2025 · Constitutional Order & Rule of Law · ConfirmedJudge Finds Probable Cause That Officials Committed Criminal Contempt Over the Deportation FlightsLegal outcome Probable cause of criminal contempt found; later vacated
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Apr 18, 2025 · Constitutional Order & Rule of Law · ConfirmedAppeals Court Freezes the Contempt Inquiry Two Days After It OpenedLegal outcome Contempt inquiry stayed pending appeal
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May 1, 2025 · Immigration, Detention & Civil Rights · ConfirmedFederal Judge Rejects Alien Enemies Act Deportation TheoryLegal outcome Administration position rejected in the case
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Jun 11, 2025 · Constitutional Order & Rule of Law · Well supportedAdministration Does Not Deliver the Habeas Process a Judge Ordered for the Men Sent to CECOTLegal outcome Order entered; process not provided
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Jun 24, 2025 · Constitutional Order & Rule of Law · Well supportedFired Justice Department Lawyer Tells Congress Officials Discussed Telling Courts 'F--- You'
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Aug 8, 2025 · Constitutional Order & Rule of Law · ConfirmedAppeals Panel Throws Out the Probable-Cause Contempt Order After Sitting on It for Four MonthsLegal outcome Probable-cause order vacated by mandamus
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Sep 3, 2025 · Immigration, Detention & Civil Rights · ConfirmedAppeals Court Rejects Alien Enemies Act Removal CampaignLegal outcome Administration theory rejected
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Nov 4, 2025 · Constitutional Order & Rule of Law · ConfirmedSecond Set of Impeachment Articles Filed Against Judge BoasbergLegal outcome Did not advance to a floor vote
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Nov 14, 2025 · Constitutional Order & Rule of Law · ConfirmedFull Appeals Court Declines to Take Up the Contempt Fight, Sending It Back to the District JudgeLegal outcome En banc review declined; matter returned to district court
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Dec 12, 2025 · Constitutional Order & Rule of Law · Well supportedJustice Department Wins a Same-Day Stay Blocking Its Own Lawyers From TestifyingLegal outcome Compelled testimony stayed
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Apr 14, 2026 · Constitutional Order & Rule of Law · ConfirmedAppeals Panel Orders the Criminal Contempt Proceedings Shut Down EntirelyLegal outcome Mandamus granted; later vacated en banc
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Jun 22, 2026 · Constitutional Order & Rule of Law · ConfirmedFull Appeals Court Wipes Out the Termination Order and Takes the Contempt Case ItselfLegal outcome Panel ruling vacated; rehearing en banc granted
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Jul 15, 2026 · Immigration, Detention & Civil Rights · Well supportedJustice Department Activates Never-Used Alien Terrorist Removal Court for the First Time