President Donald Trump’s efforts to deport dangerous gang members and enforce immigration laws are being blocked by activist judges who overstep their authority, according to Republican leaders. Florida Congresswoman Kat Cammack slammed these legal roadblocks as “absurd,” highlighting the growing tension between the judicial branch and efforts to secure America’s borders.
Federal judges have issued against Trump’s policies since he took office, double the number faced by Presidents Bush, Obama, and Biden combined. These include orders blocking the deportation of suspected Venezuelan gang members under the and attempts to end birthright citizenship. Cammack called this “judicial lawfare,” arguing unelected judges are undermining the will of voters who demanded stronger borders.
The controversy centers on Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, a law allowing presidents to detain or deport noncitizens from nations deemed hostile. Critics claim it’s being misapplied, but supporters argue it’s critical for removing gang members like those linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua. Over 260 people were recently deported under this authority, including some with no criminal records. A federal judge temporarily halted the policy, calling it an overreach, but the administration insists courts have no right to second-guess national security decisions.
Cammack emphasized that Congress hasn’t updated judicial oversight since 1911, allowing courts to accumulate unchecked power. She accused Democrats of hypocrisy, noting their silence when Biden bypassed Congress on immigration but outrage when Trump acts. “The left hates what President Trump is doing because he’s returning power to the people,” she said, arguing that Biden’s policies prioritized “dependency and control” over safety.
The clash reached new heights when Judge James Boasberg accused the Trump administration of ignoring court orders mid-flight. Despite his ruling to halt deportations, planes carrying deportees landed in El Salvador hours later. Trump called the judge a “Radical Left Lunatic” and demanded impeachment, while Chief Justice Roberts defended judicial independence but refused to address the president directly.
Democrats have rallied behind figures like Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, whose deportation was blocked after he protested Israel. They claim Trump is targeting free speech, but Republicans counter that Khalil’s actions supported terrorism. The administration argues foreign nationals threatening public safety forfeit their right to stay, regardless of political views.
Cammack and other conservatives are pushing for reforms to rein in activist judges, including legislation limiting nationwide injunctions. They argue the current system enables forum shopping, where left-wing groups handpick friendly judges to block Trump’s agenda. “This is long overdue,” she said, comparing judicial overreach to Biden’s “trampling” of constitutional norms.
As legal battles escalate, the core debate remains: Should courts dictate border policy, or should voters have the final say through their elected president? With deportations paused and tensions rising, this conflict between branches of government shows no sign of slowing.
