A federal judge sparked outrage by comparing the Trump administration’s deportation of Venezuelan migrants to the treatment of Nazis during World War II. Judge Patricia Millett claimed “Nazis got better treatment” under U.S. law, a comment that drew fierce backlash from Trump officials. Border czar Tom Homan blasted the comparison as “disgusting,” arguing it insulted Holocaust victims and ignored the need to remove dangerous criminals.
Homan defended the deportations, saying the administration followed the law by using the Alien Enemies Act to target gang members. He emphasized that the Venezuelans removed were tied to gangs like Tren de Aragua and MS-13, which he called terrorist groups. “We’re enforcing the laws on the books,” Homan said, adding that President Trump’s policies prioritize national security.
The Alien Enemies Act, last used during WWII, allows the government to deport noncitizens during wartime with minimal due process. The Trump administration argued Venezuela’s gang crisis amounts to an “invasion,” justifying the law’s use. Critics, including Judge Millett, claimed the deportees weren’t given proper hearings, but Homan insisted the process was thorough and fair.
Homan accused “activist judges” of siding with criminals over American safety. He pointed to victims of illegal immigrant crimes, like Laken Riley, to argue that courts should focus on protecting citizens, not gang members. “These judges didn’t care about due process for the victims,” he said, calling the legal challenges politically motivated.
The administration faced scrutiny after deporting over 200 Venezuelans to El Salvador’s prison under a $6 million deal. While some detainees claimed mistaken identity, Homan said ICE relied on investigations, informants, and criminal history to confirm gang ties. “Every person on those planes was a threat,” he stated, dismissing claims of errors as “lies from open-border activists.”
Conservatives rallied behind Trump’s tough stance, arguing the courts have no right to block wartime presidential powers. They noted the Supreme Court upheld the Alien Enemies Act in 1948, and past presidents used it during actual wars. “President Trump is keeping his promise to remove terrorists,” Homan said, vowing to continue arrests despite “obstruction” from Democrats and the media.
The legal battle has become a flashpoint in the immigration debate, with Trump supporters framing it as a fight against lawlessness. Homan warned that releasing detained gang members would endanger communities, pledging to hold them “in Gitmo if necessary.” He accused the Biden administration of leaving borders open and allowing criminal networks to grow.
As courts weigh the case, Trump officials remain defiant. Homan promised to keep using “every tool” to deport illegal immigrants, saying, “We won’t rest until every threat is off our streets.” The administration’s resolve signals a broader push to tighten immigration rules ahead of the 2024 election, with conservatives cheering the crackdown as long overdue.
