On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, PBS News reported that President Donald Trump has called for the impeachment of a federal judge who recently blocked his administration’s deportation efforts. This statement marks a significant escalation in Trump’s ongoing disputes with the judiciary, which has frequently acted as a check on his administration’s policies.
Trump specifically targeted U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg during a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. He described Boasberg as an unelected “troublemaker and agitator,” criticizing him for issuing an order that halted deportation flights. The judge’s ruling was based on wartime authorities invoked by Trump through an 18th-century law, known as the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which has only been utilized three times in U.S. history during declared wars.
In his post, Trump asserted that he had won a significant electoral mandate in part due to his stance on illegal immigration. “I’m just doing what the VOTERS wanted me to do,” he stated, emphasizing his belief that Boasberg’s actions were obstructive. He went on to demand that the judge should be impeached, claiming that many judges, whom he referred to as “Crooked Judges,” are hindering his agenda.
The Alien Enemies Act allows for the removal of individuals deemed a threat to national security and has been a focal point for Trump’s deportation plans, which he attributes to an alleged invasion by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. His administration is reportedly funding El Salvador to detain suspected gang members.
Judge Boasberg, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, convened a hearing to address what he termed “possible defiance” of his order after two deportation flights to El Salvador continued despite his directive to turn them back. The Trump administration’s legal team contended that Boasberg’s written order was not sufficiently explicit, while an attorney from the American Civil Liberties Union argued that the situation was nearing a constitutional crisis.
The Constitution grants the House of Representatives the authority to impeach federal judges with a simple majority, but any removal from office requires a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate. Currently, Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House, which could influence the impeachment process.
Trump’s recent remarks align him with allies, including Elon Musk, who have expressed similar sentiments regarding judicial accountability. Marin Levy, a law professor at Duke University, remarked in an email that Trump’s actions represent an attempt by one branch of government to intimidate another, posing a threat to judicial independence.
The call for judicial impeachments has been gaining momentum as Trump’s expansive policy initiatives face resistance in the courts. At least two members of Congress have indicated their intention to propose articles of impeachment against Judge Boasberg. Furthermore, House Republicans have already initiated impeachment proceedings against two other judges, Amir Ali and Paul Engelmayer, in connection with decisions made in cases involving Trump.
Historically, the impeachment of judges is rare in the United States. Only 15 judges have been impeached since the nation’s founding, and just eight have been removed from office. The last judicial impeachment occurred in 2010, when G. Thomas Porteous Jr. was removed after being convicted on charges of bribery and perjury.
Source: PBS News
