Judge: US treated Nazis better than Venezuelan migrants who were deported

A US appeals court judge stated that the US treated Nazis "better" during World War II than it treated Venezuelans deported this month. This statement came during a hearing about the Trump administration's use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act.

The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit discussed the deportation of 238 alleged Venezuelan gang members to a prison in El Salvador. Judge Patricia Millett questioned how the government used this law without allowing challenges to the allegations.

"There were planeloads of people," she remarked. "Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemy Act than has happened here."

Earlier, a federal judge blocked these deportations with a temporary restraining order. Judge James Boasberg ruled that many deported individuals dispute their gang affiliations and should challenge their removal.

On March 15, Trump claimed members of Tren de Aragua were "conducting irregular warfare" against the US. He justified their deportation under the Alien Enemies Act.

Later that evening, Judge Boasberg issued a 14-day halt to deportations. He verbally ordered flights to turn around, but the White House said it was too late as planes were already airborne.

During Monday's hearing, government lawyers sought to overturn Boasberg's restraining order. Government lawyer Drew Ensign called it "utterly unprecedented" and argued it interfered with presidential powers.

He also disputed Judge Millett's Nazi analogy. This led to a tense exchange where Millett noted there was no precedent for such actions by any president before.

Judge Millett expressed concern that Venezuelans could be wrongly deported without proper review of their gang status. Later, border czar Tom Homan called the Nazi comparison "disgusting."

US Circuit Judge Justin Walker seemed less skeptical of the government's arguments. The three-judge panel did not indicate when they would make a ruling.

The Trump administration insists that those deported were "carefully vetted" as gang members before being sent to El Salvador. However, some family members dispute this claim, and officials acknowledged many have no criminal records in the US.

Before Monday's hearing, Judge Boasberg emphasized that named plaintiffs disputing their gang membership cannot be deported until their case is resolved. He noted that regular immigration processes remain available for other Venezuelans.

These deportations have caused tension between the White House and Judge Boasberg. The judge mentioned he had never experienced such conduct from government lawyers before.

"I will investigate whether they violated my order," he stated at a recent hearing. Trump criticized Boasberg as a "constitutional disaster" who allows criminals into America.

The Alien Enemies Act gives presidents broad powers to quickly deport citizens from enemy nations. Human rights groups have condemned these deportations as illegal since the US is not at war.

On Fox News, Trump's Attorney General Pam Bondi defended using wartime laws against Venezuelans. She described it as modern-day warfare aimed at protecting American citizens.