White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller recently engaged in a heated discussion with CNN anchor Kasie Hunt regarding President Donald Trump’s authority to deport suspected Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador. This debate arose after a federal judge attempted to block the deportations.
On Saturday, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ordered the Trump administration to halt any flights carrying these gang members. However, the administration countered that the flights were already over international waters, making the judge’s order irrelevant. Following this, Judge Boasberg demanded that the Department of Justice provide a sworn statement justifying the deportations.
During his interview with Hunt, Miller expressed strong disapproval of the judge’s ruling, calling it "patently unlawful" and an "outrageous assault on the Constitution." Hunt pressed Miller on whether this meant the administration would ignore the judge’s order and potentially future court rulings. Miller asserted that the president has constitutional rights to conduct national security operations.
He referenced the Alien Enemies Act, which was established by early American leaders, claiming it grants the president the authority to respond to foreign threats. Miller argued that this law does not allow for judicial review, particularly when it comes to national security matters.
Hunt challenged Miller’s assertions, asking if Venezuela was indeed invading the U.S. Miller responded by labeling the Tren de Aragua gang as an "alien enemy force" and insisted that the president alone determines what constitutes a threat to national security. He argued that a district court judge should not have the power to interfere with actions taken by the commander-in-chief.
The exchange became increasingly intense as Miller insisted that the law supports the administration’s actions. He claimed that allowing a district court to adjudicate each deportation would undermine the country’s sovereignty.
Miller also criticized the judicial system for not acting against the current administration’s immigration policies, suggesting that judges have been ineffective in stopping the influx of illegal immigrants under President Biden.
In closing, Miller expressed his frustration over political opposition to the deportation of gang members, asserting that the separation of powers should favor the executive branch in matters of national security. The contentious dialogue highlighted the ongoing tensions between the judicial and executive branches regarding immigration and national security policies.