DOJ Seeks Extension on Judge’s Deadline for Trump Administration to Explain El Salvador Deportation Flights Amid Tensions Over Judicial Oversight

In a recent legal development, attorneys from the Department of Justice (DOJ) have filed a request to delay a deadline set by District Judge James Boasberg, the chief judge of the D.C. District Court. The deadline, originally set for noon on Wednesday, required the Trump administration to provide detailed information regarding two planes that traveled to El Salvador on Saturday. These flights carried deportees to the country despite a prior directive from Judge Boasberg to turn the planes around.

Judge Boasberg had mandated the Trump administration to answer questions concerning the timing of these deportation flights and the process of handing over custody of the deportees. The government was given until noon on Wednesday to comply with this order. The DOJ’s recent filing seeks to postpone this deadline, arguing against the necessity of providing the requested details.

In their filing, the DOJ attorneys expressed strong opposition to Judge Boasberg’s directive. They characterized his efforts as “digressive micromanagement” and described the requirement to submit detailed information as an “unnecessary judicial fishing” expedition. This language indicates a significant level of tension between the DOJ and the judiciary over the handling of deportation procedures.

The situation highlights ongoing legal disputes surrounding immigration enforcement and judicial oversight. The outcome of this case could have implications for how deportation orders are executed and the extent of judicial intervention in such matters. As the legal proceedings continue, the court’s decision on whether to grant the DOJ’s request for a deadline extension remains pending.