A group of House Republicans has formally introduced articles of impeachment against a federal judge who recently ordered the Trump administration to halt deportation flights involving members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The move marks an escalation in the ongoing dispute between the White House and the judiciary over immigration enforcement actions.
Lawmakers leading the effort argue that the judge overstepped constitutional boundaries by interfering with the executive branch’s authority on matters of immigration and national security. According to the articles, the judge’s ruling endangered public safety by preventing the removal of individuals linked to violent criminal organizations.
The impeachment filing accuses the judge of abusing judicial power and acting in direct opposition to federal immigration laws. Supporters of the resolution argue that the bench’s decision undermines the administration’s crackdown on foreign gangs and jeopardizes the security of American communities.
The deportation flights, which were part of a targeted operation to remove gang-affiliated migrants, had drawn heavy criticism from immigrant rights groups. However, administration officials maintain the individuals scheduled for removal had known ties to violent criminal activity.
The White House has backed the impeachment push, with senior officials calling for swift congressional action. Meanwhile, legal scholars note that impeachment of a sitting judge remains rare and would require approval by both chambers of Congress to proceed.
House leadership has yet to announce when a formal vote on the resolution will take place, but the development underscores the widening rift between federal courts and the Trump administration over immigration policy enforcement.