WH Rips Judge Who Blocked Alleged Gang Members' Deportation

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says the federal judge who stopped alleged gang members from being deported is a "Democrat activist."

U.S. District Judge Boasberg issued a 14-day temporary block on Trump being able to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 while deporting 238 alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

In his order, Boasberg, chief judge of the federal district court, said that any flights in the air with the deportees should return to the United States, but the Trump administration argues that the planes were already gone when the order was issued.

“I would just like to point out that the judge in this case is essentially trying to say that the president doesn’t have the executive authority to deport foreign terrorists from our American soil,” Leavitt said at a press briefing. “That is an egregious abuse of the bench. The judge does not have that authority. It is the opinion of this White House and this administration, and that’s why we’re fighting this in court.”

Leavitt dismissed Boasberg as an activist judge trying to usurp Trump’s power.

“I would just like to point out that the judge in this case is essentially trying to say that the president doesn’t have the executive authority to deport foreign terrorists from our American soil,” Leavitt said. “That is an egregious abuse of the bench. The judge does not have that authority. It is the opinion of this White House and this administration, and that’s why we’re fighting this in court."

Boasberg’s wife has donated to liberal causes as Boasberg was appointed to the district court in 2010 by President Barack Obama, Leavitt said. Boasberg was first appointed to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia by President George W. Bush.

Trump criticized Boasberg in a post on his Truth Social account Wednesday, calling him a “radical left lunatic judge.”

"If a President doesn't have the right to throw murderers, and other criminals, out of our Country because a Radical Left Lunatic Judge wants to assume the role of President, then our Country is in very big trouble, and destined to fail!" the president posted on his Truth Social page, a day after a separate post calling for Boasberg's impeachment.

Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, on Tuesday introduced a resolution to impeach Boasberg.

• Trump Admin: Judge Overstepping in Venezuela Deportations Case
• Rep. Gill to Newsmax: Judge's Deportation Ruling Should Be Appealed Quickly