The Brian Lehrer Show Thursday Morning Politics: Trump and the Courts
Apr 17, 2025
Emily Bazelon, a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine and Yale Law School fellow, shares her insights on the clash between the Trump administration and the judiciary over deportations. She discusses the implications of using the Alien Enemies Act and a recent case involving a Salvadoran man facing wrongful deportation. Bazelon highlights the threats to judicial independence, explores legal ethics in crises, and reflects on lessons from Watergate that resonate with today's political landscape.
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Trump's Unprecedented Use of Alien Enemies Act
- President Trump used the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants, a law traditionally invoked only in wartime.
- This unprecedented use of the law to target a gang raises legal and factual questions about executive authority.
Wrongful Deportation of Abrego Garcia
- Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was wrongfully deported to El Salvador despite having legal protection due to fear of persecution.
- His case spotlights failures in government procedures and ongoing court battles to facilitate his return.
Government's Dual Response to Courts
- The Trump administration publicly downplays court orders to return deported individuals but legally stonewalls in court.
- Government lawyers invoke executive authority to resist judicial review, deepening the conflict between branches.
