The clash over President Donald Trump's bid to exercise unprecedented powers in deporting migrants deepened Sunday as he again bashed the judiciary, while a top Democrat warned the country was "closer and closer" to a constitutional crisis.
The latest events followed a dramatic intervention by the Supreme Court in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday to temporarily block Trump's use of an obscure law to deport Venezuelan migrants without due process.
Trump lashed out Sunday on his Truth Social platform, not specifically naming the high court but slamming the "WEAK and INEFFECTIVE Judges and Law Enforcement Officials who are allowing this sinister attack on our Nation to continue, an attack so violent that it will never be forgotten!"
Samuel Alito, one of two conservative high-court justices to vote against the halt, called the emergency ruling by the court's majority "legally questionable."
"Literally in the middle of the night, the Court issued unprecedented and legally questionable relief... without hearing from the opposing party," Alito wrote in his dissent.
The court's order at least temporarily halted what rights groups warned were imminent deportations of Venezuelan migrants being held in Texas, who have been accused of being gang members.
More broadly, the decision temporarily prevents the government from continuing to expel migrants under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act -- last used to round up Japanese-American citizens during World War II.
The Trump administration has been butting heads with federal judges, rights groups and Democrats who say he has trampled or ignored constitutionally enshrined rights in rushing to deport migrants, sometimes without the right to a hearing.
"We're getting closer and closer to a constitutional crisis," Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar told CNN. "Donald Trump is trying to pull us down into the sewer of a crisis."
The Republican president has insisted that he is protecting American citizens against a wave of undocumented migration -- including, he says, murderers, terrorists and rapists -- while carrying out the will of the voters who returned him to the White House.
Last month, the Trump administration sent hundreds of migrants, most of them Venezuelan, to the maximum-security CECOT prison in El Salvador, alleging they were members of violent gangs.
In the most publicized case, Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia was deported to the infamous El Salvador mega-prison without charge.
The administration admitted that Abrego Garcia had been included among the deportees due to an "administrative error," and a court ruled that the government must "facilitate" his return.
Trump has since doubled down, however, insisting that Abrego Garcia is in fact a gang member, including posting an apparently doctored photo on social media Friday of a gang symbol tattooed on his knuckles.
CECOT inmates are packed in windowless cells, sleep on metal beds with no mattresses, and are forbidden visitors.
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen managed on Thursday to secure a meeting with Abrego Garcia and said the man was bewildered by his detention and felt threatened in prison.
On Sunday, Van Hollen challenged the Trump administration to provide evidence that it is respecting U.S. laws in its deportation sweep.
"I'm okay with whatever the rule of law dictates," he told CNN, "but right now we have a lawless president... a lawless president who is ignoring the order of the Supreme Court of the United States to facilitate (Abrego Garcia's) return."
"They need to put up or shut up in the courts of the United States."
© 2025 AFP
93 Comments
TaiwanIsNotChina
No weak would be somebody who has no morals, no courage, and no understanding of the Constitution.
Yrral
Trump bring this own himself, show how self esteem is
bass4funk
No, he didn’t, the last admin did this to us without our consent
TaiwanIsNotChina
The Constitution allows for allowing in asylum seekers without limit. It does not allow for sending people to Cecot without trial, least of all US citizens.
I'veSeenFootage
The fact that Donnie calles judges who are actively and successfully blocking his fascist agenda "weak" is a pretty good proof that mentally, he is by far the weakest president the US ever had. He makes Bush Jr. look like a genius.
Underworld
Yup. Because if they didn't, Trump's admin would ignore them and illegally deport them anyway.
And Alito knows this. That's why he wanted to delay.
Underworld
bass4funk
Nope.
Underworld
What attack are you talking about?
There is no "attack".
bass4funk
Not for illegals and gang members, start from there.
As a gang member which he was identified as A member of MS-13 being found a national security threat and who is a lawful citizen of El Salvador and was sent back to his country of origin
nishikat
Just about all countries hate Trump. Even Japan hates Trump now. The only country that doesn't hate Trump is Russia.
Yrral
Trump is just crazy
bass4funk
10 million walked in on their own, over the last 4 years, I see. Lol
I'veSeenFootage
10 million is about the total number of illegal aliens in the US. Most of them have been here for years, if not decades. They did not all come "over the last 4 years". Believing that would be really, really stupid.
bass4funk
Yeah, that lame argument cost the Democrats dearly last November
Underworld
bass4funk
The Constitution allows for allowing in asylum seekers without limit.
Yes, for illegals and gang members.
It does not allow for sending people to Cecot without trial, least of all US citizens.
No such identification has been made. And even if it was, they still require due process.
proxy
This is not a winning stance for the Democrats. They need to stop taking positions against what most people support. They seem to be working hard to ensure that they never win back the Presidency.
Underworld
proxy
I don't think anybody supports the denial of due process. The nation was built on it as a fundamental right.
Blacklabel
For illegals, 56% of Americans want them gone.
all of them.
it was a primary campaign issue in an election we won.
bass4funk
Not gang members if they are in violation of the law.
Serious Criminal Convictions:
- Individuals convicted of a "particularly serious crime" in the U.S. or abroad are barred from asylum, as they are deemed a danger to the community. This includes aggravated felonies (e.g., murder, drug trafficking, or certain violent crimes).
Being illegal would apply to that law.
- A "serious nonpolitical crime" committed outside the U.S. also bars asylum eligibility. This could apply to gang-related activities like extortion or violence, even without a U.S. conviction.
He’s an El Salvadorian citizen
Yes, his gang tattoos show it. That’s on record
https://x.com/scottfreeforme/status/1913764181289079261?s=46&t=YGWP_lcRZjddiWlx4QxURQ
M arijuana leaf
S miley face
1 as part of a cross
3 as part of a skull
Unless, they send the military and Navy Seals to break this guy out, he’s not coming back.
wallace
Being an asylum seeker is not illegal. How many are asylum seekers, and how many are illegals?
In 2023, the U.S. received a significant number of asylum applications, with 456,750 affirmative applications and 488,620 defensive applications.
bass4funk
Of course it’s not, no one said that.
I only stated what the law is under asylum seekers
I'veSeenFootage
What "lame argument"? Are you disputing that there are about 10 million illegals in the US? And that the vast majority of them have been here for decades? Or do you think there were 0 illegals in the country in 2020 and then 10 million in 2024?
I'veSeenFootage
And 52% of the country disapproves of Trump, so he should resign immediately.
bass4funk
True reality
I watched daily as Myorkas allowed them in, lied to Congress and told them bold blank that the border was secured, that lie helped to get his wretched party out of office.
Don’t deflect, it’s not helping your argument
Again, I’m happy that you guys are not in power because you continue to prove how we really dodged a bullet.
bass4funk
How many Blacks and American Hispanics were polled in that survey?
proxy
@Underworld
Public support for these deportations is high. That doesn't mean I would support them if I was American or that I would support Trump, but is folks hope that the next President is a Democrat, the party needs to stop taking the side of things that only 20% of Americans support. Wouldn't you agree that to get elected candidates should take positions that voters support?
I'veSeenFootage
"Deflect"? You're the one who's incapable of answering very simple questions.
Are you disputing that there are about 10 million illegals in the US? Do you think those 10 million illegals all came since 2020?
Blacklabel
there were 11 million illegals back in 2010.
and 10 million Biden border encounters in 4 years. Where the default response was to allow entry. Plus flights that bypassed the border entirely.
so it’s highly illogical there are 10 million illegals now in 2025.
Underworld
bass4funk
No such identification has been made.
Except that MS13 members don't have these tattoos. The tattoos that MS13 members have spell "MS13".
A simpler way is to have El Salvador put him on a plane back to the US.
Underworld
proxy
No, it isn't.
Yup. And the vast majority of Americans support everyone's right to due cause.
lincolnman
Typical comments from a wanna-be dictator and tyrant...
Ours just happens to also be deep into dementia...which makes him even more dangerous...
aaronagstring
What, some anonymous gimboid on Twatter, sorry “X”.?? You call that “record”? Buahhahahahahahahahahahaha!
plasticmonkey
That photo was doctored. No other photos of his hands show such tattoos.
You know the Trump administration has no case when it has to show a fake photo as evidence.
An agenda built on lies.
Blacklabel
Oh but they do. Pictures posted on his wife’s social media and the official pictures of the meeting with the Senator show his MS13 finger ink.
Underworld
Blacklabel
Ha ha. With the distinct lack of the letters M & S, and the number 13.
plasticmonkey
Deporting immigrants without criminal convictions to El Salvador to be imprisoned, without letting them challenge the deportation in court
61% oppose, 46% strongly
https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/Policy_Support_poll_results_LTzN4E0.pdf
You're in that tiny 15% minority that strongly supports this fascistic move.
And lest ye think this is some slanted liberal poll, it shows pretty strong support for allowing immigration officials to use IRS tax data to identify immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Are you under in the impression that only gang members crossed our border and that you cannot declare asylum on US territory under the Constitution?
The Supreme Court said you are going to find a judge and pay for a judge for each and every deportee.
plasticmonkey
My question for our MAGA friends is this. Should Trump simply defy the Supreme Court?
Blacklabel
You do know they have symbols and codes too right?
like a Bull as their mascot?
so…what do his finger tats signify? 4 symbols.
the Dem senator strangely claims he didn’t even ask him what those mean or even if he is in MS-13.
But after finding he is a violent wife beating gangbanger, the Dem is now saying:
well it’s not really about this one guy, it’s about “due process” for everyone.
cause he knows this is a losing narrative now.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Doesn't mean there are 20 million. People get frustrated and go back all of the time because, newsflash, it is extremely difficult not being a citizen in the US and always has been.
Desert Tortoise
I have a real hard time getting excited about so called "illegal aliens" when the place I was born and where I still live was the sovereign territory of another nation before the US took it in a war of conquest. I especially can't get too excited when so many of these so-called illegal aliens are from the country who we stole the land from. Humility and introspection have never been the strong points of the far right however.
Blacklabel
he should “find a way around” any decision that doesn’t align with what the people elected him to do.
Desert Tortoise
He took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. He represents all of America, not one faction. The kind of nonsense you advocate will tear the US apart.
Desert Tortoise
The US has an Embassy and an Ambassador there so that excuse won't fly.
deanzaZZR
It's not a matter of being "weak" or "strong". Judges need to impartially base rulings on the Constitution and case law.
Sorry, Donald.
Underworld
Blacklabel
Merrill Lynch?
Not at all. There is no proof that he is a member of MS13, but that has never been the narrative. Being a member of a gang is not illegal.
The narrative has always been that you can't send anyone to prison without due process. If anyone, who is provided due process, is convicted of crimes you can sentence them.
The Trump administration has unequivocally said that Garcia shouldn't have been sent to El Salvador, that it was an administrative error.
plasticmonkey
That's right. It's in the Constitution.
And Trump is violating it.
Blacklabel
it got Joe fired and his hand picked successor denied- yet was fine when he did it. Just gotta find a way around that illegitimate Supreme Court, leftists said.
The US just had an election and is fine to proceed with the policies of the administration that the voters chose.
plasticmonkey
That is not Constitutional. It's fascism.
Show us where in the Constitution it says the president may "find a way around" an explicit order from SCOTUS.
Blacklabel
Logan Act of 1799 doesn’t really address phone calls.
it also doesn’t have any exemption for someone else to go to a foreign government themselves to try to do something our elected President choose not to.
in fact, it specifically forbids that.
I'veSeenFootage
Yup, exactly. So one of your claims here is clearly false.
Either there were not 11 million illegals in 2010, meaning the official numbers were wrong, or maybe, just maybe, the default response was not to "allow entry for the 10 million Biden border encounters in 4 years".
If you apply yourself and think really really hard, you will be able to guess which of those claims is not realistic.
Also, don't forget the fact that Biden deported more illegals than Trump. (Because Trump is incompetent and weak on immigration.)
Blacklabel
you do know Joe Biden did exactly this with these exact words- don’t you?
Fountain
Answer the question then Bass4funk.
Do you think there were no illegals in the USA in 2020 and then 10 million in 2024?
It’s a simple yes/no question and you’ve had plenty of time to think about it.
I'veSeenFootage
OK, sure.
Isn't that the Nirvana logo?
Wait, what?? Why is the cross 1 and not "Jesus"? Or "Christianity"? Or... "Cross"?
....huh??? What does that even mean? Doesn't a skill usually just represents Death? Or pirates?
Peter Neil
Trump is a punk.
Blacklabel
I thought the tattoos were photoshopped?
now it changed to well yeah the first 2 are M and S.
but it’s not clear what the last 2 are. We have no idea what it could be. lol
bass4funk
I’m from LA, they do, if you don’t think so, ask the police or look at the records
That won’t happen, send Seals and that may happen
Underworld
bass4funk
Except that MS13 members don't have these tattoos.
Nope.
I'veSeenFootage
By the way, if the tattoos are without a doubt a proof of his gang affiliation... why did we have too wait like 10 days until we all found out about it? Why not immediately start with that from day one? Up until now it was always just "yeah he was wearing a sports cap and a hoodie so he's definitely a gang member". But he has very obvious MS13 tats on his hand and nobody mentions it? Objectively it really doesn't make any sense. It just looks like the Trump admin is scrambling to invent justifications for their mistake. Grasping at the flimsiest of straws. I imagine next they're gonna search his house and find 13 copies of Microsoft Office which will also definitely prove he's part of MS-13 of something.
Blacklabel
Because we were not shown the tats until the Senator visit pictures were released.
his wife intentionally covered them up with heart emojis on his hands in her social media.
but she missed one. oops.
Moderator: You have made your point. No further posts on this thread, thank you. Japan Today discourages obsessive posting.
HopeSpringsEternal
SCOTUS has just affirmed recently that DJT has the right to deport under the 1798 Enemies Alien Act.
So, it's really an administrative question around carrying out deportations, how much notice is required, etc., not a question about the legality of deportations themselves.
Due note, Biden Admin brought in illegal aliens with no process, ignored immigration laws, issued waivers and provided work visas etc. to illegal aliens, as those trying to enter the US LEGALLY were greatly delayed as a result.
plasticmonkey
Give me the context. He never said these words about an explicit SCOTUS order.
Wasabi
trump broke the law and still maga are defending him. maga want to make the US the new russia.
HopeSpringsEternal
There is no scenario where Mr. Garcia, who is a citizen of El Salvador, who has been before at least 17 US judges will be brought back to the US. Because the President of El Salvador has said so and has jurisdiction.
Even if Mr. Garcia could be brought back, anyone think he'd be released, as under Biden Admin, where so many innocent people were killed by gang members like MS-13 and other criminals as result of "catch and release"?
DJT won Nov. election due to Biden Illegal Alien Crime and Inflation, which illegal aliens fueled, especially housing costs. Public has no sympathy or tolerance for those wanting to not deport high risk illegal aliens.
u_s__reamer
Trump is a slomo trainwreck. But the felon's comeuppance can already be seen coming on the distant horizon.
bass4funk
I see, so the cops are lying and they falsified their records and the images are AI. ROFL!
plasticmonkey
"It is well established that the Fifth Amendment entitles aliens to due process of law in deportation proceedings."
--Justice Antonin Scalia, Conservative Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
It's interesting to see so-called conservatives here bending themselves into pretzels to justify the suspension of habeas corpus.
HopeSpringsEternal
FYI, Trump has "facilitated' an effort to bring back Mr. Garcia from El Salvador, as he had the President of El Salvador at 1600 last week to address this issue.
Pres. of El Salvador stately to media that Mr. Garcia is a member of MS-13 Gang, confirming multiple US Court & Law enforcement findings, and under no circumstance would be allowed to enter US, which would be illegal.
In other words, CASE Closed
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
No they didn't.
SCOTUS said that everyone who is to be deported be afforded due process. That means a trial. For each of them.
Didn't happen.
Underworld
Blacklabel
He can't. SCOTUS have been explicit. Each and every person who is to be deported must have due process. There is no way around that.
I'veSeenFootage
But when ICE arrested him, why didn't they list the MS13 tats as the main reason for his deportation? They are right on his hand. Wouldn't that make more sense than all the talk about a Chicago Bulls cap, which is worn by literally millions of people around the world? Or are you telling us that the Trump administration and the DOJ has no way of judging who is actually a gang member or not until they're... in pictures with senators???
wtfjapan
Not for illegals and gang members, start from there.
wrong again, while people are in the US on assylum grounds they are legally allowed to stay while their cases are ongoing. legal and constitutional. it doesnt matter what crimes a person has done, rape , murder, bank robber, gang member, whatever, this is irrelevant. people have a right to due process as ruled by SCOTUS, meaning if those choose to use the courts to fight their extradition, imprisionment, the courts will decide their fate, Not the president
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
President of El Salvador has said that the reason he won't send him back is because the Trump administration is paying to imprison them. SCOTUS have forced the Trump admin to request his return, which would result in Garcia being returned.
Yes.
He's not a member of MS13 and more importantly, he hasn't been charged with any crimes.
Public has no sympathy or tolerance for those wanting remove due process rights from anybody.
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
He did not. And the court has rejected that. At the same time Bukele called Garcia a terrorist, which he is not.
He did not.
Garcia has never been convicted of any crimes.
Very much, case open.
Some dude
"Grandpa, what does rule of law mean?"
"Gosh, there's a phrase I haven't heard in decades!"
mrtinjp
The Constitution allows for allowing in asylum seekers without limit
These are not asylum seekers but illegal immigrants. and there is no such thing as no limit on asylum seekers, going by your narrative logic everyone on this planet could seek asylum in the US..
mrtinjp
*10 million is about the total number of illegal aliens in the US*
That was in 2016, around 11 million, now around 23 million..
mrtinjp
Should Trump simply defy the Supreme Court..
Well during Obama and even Bush Supreme Court was fine with all the deportations, millions of them, so what's the issue now..
TaiwanIsNotChina
For all you know, he simply asked Bukele to release Garcia because there is no gd evidence against him. Nothing involving the US at all.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Not in a brief to a court and not in direct violation of a court order.
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
He did not.
Indeed he hasn’t been convicted of anything.
He still hasn’t been charged with any crimes.
Garcia is not a threat to anyone and deserves due process. Also SCOTUS have ordered the Trump admin to return him to the US.
Bob Fosse
The officer who attested Garcia was a gang member was suspended days later for giving confidential case information to a sex worker in exchange for sexual favors.
Cops lie. 47 lies multiple times daily.
theFu
Petty people have no self-esteem. They are weak for the whole world to see, sometimes 20x daily, like for Trump. Weak, weak, weak.
bass4funk
Don’t start from the beginning?
Not if they are found to be in violation of laws of asylum, which he was.
No, libs can’t pick and choose the law the way they want and the previous administration KNEW this. This is why they allowed the flood gates to be open and didn’t vet a single person
No one said they didn’t, again, that’s not what we are talking about!
Sorry, 3 branches of government separate and co-equal.
bass4funk
Focus, Garcia is a gang member, look at his tats
Criminals lie more, that’s why they go to jail or get deported if found guilty of committing illegal acts as an illegal alien.
That can be found out, I’m not on the side of illegal lawbreakers under any circumstance
Bob Fosse
Which someone only noticed just now? You’re being tricked.
That is a nonsensical retort to a factual statement. You’ve been to jail. Does that mean you are a natural liar?
stormcrow
Judge, jury and executioner. . . That’s the way the Republicans like it, especially Trump.
bass4funk
You are if you think the cops are the problem.
No, these are public records anyway can obtain
I’m not a criminal, not illegal, I’m an U.S. citizen and I didn’t do illegal crimes associated with gang members such as MS-13, so the answer is, No.
HopeSpringsEternal
Fact is SCOTUS is already acting to reign in the nearly 700 potential 'rogue' District Court judges.
National injunctions almost never happened until recently and already +50% of ALL such injunctions in US history have occurred during DJT time in the Presidency.
SCOTUS using it's "Shadow Docket" is moving with unprecedented speed, the press not covering it but it's largely very favorable to DJT, who firmly believes in separation of powers and co-equal branches of Govt.
Underworld
bass4funk
Same as Garcia.
bass4funk
Being illegal is a crime
Underworld
bass4funk
Same as Garcia.
He's not illegal.
bass4funk
If he’s not illegal, a gang member or committed spousal abuse, he wouldn’t be at Cecot back in his home country.