President Donald Trump’s decision to utilize an antiquated 18th-century wartime statute, the Alien Enemies Act, to deport numerous immigrants, many of them Venezuelans, to a prison in El Salvador has sparked a contentious interaction with the judicial system. This has involved a pervasive legal battle, numerous White House declarations, numerous court hearings, deportation flights, and a sarcastic social media commentary from a Central American leader.
The following is a chronological breakdown of the events surrounding the utilization of the Alien Enemies Act. All times are noted in Eastern Standard Time.
**Saturday, March 15**
—2:16 a.m.: Two advocacy organizations, the ACLU and Democracy Forward, file a lawsuit on behalf of five Venezuelans detained in immigration facilities fearing they’ll be wrongly categorized as members of the Venezuelan criminal group, Tren de Aragua, and deported using the 1798 statute, which is expected to be enforced soon.
—9:40 a.m.: Judge James E. Boasberg issues a temporary restraining order to stop the government from deporting the five aforementioned individuals, scheduling a 5 p.m. discussion on enlarging this order. The Trump administration files an appeal.
—About 4 p.m.: The White House releases an official order activating the Alien Enemies Act.
—5 p.m.: Boasberg conducts a hearing and inquires whether the Trump administration intends to deport anyone based on the new proclamation in the next day or two. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign indicates he’s unsure and requests time to acquire information. Meanwhile, the ACLU alerts the court that flights may soon depart. Boasberg grants Ensign roughly 40 minutes to gather information, pausing the session at 5:22 p.m.
—5:26 p.m.: A flight with tail number N278GX, anticipated by activists to hold deportees, departs Harlingen, Texas, close to the Mexico border, according to FlightAware.
—5:45 p.m.: Another flight, with the tail number N837VA, also anticipated by activists to be hold deportees, leaves Harlingen.
—About 5:55 p.m.: Boasberg resumes the hearing, with Ensign yet to provide specifics. The ACLU repeats warnings about departing planes. Boasberg underscores the necessity of issuing another order to prevent immediate deportations.
—Around 6:45 p.m.: Boasberg directs Ensign to urgently inform clients that any aircraft with deportees should return to the U.S. His verbal command stands for 14 days, with affected immigrants remaining in U.S. custody.
—7:26 p.m.: Boasberg’s written order is issued.
—7:36 p.m.: The aircraft with tail number N278GX arrives in Honduras.
—7:37 p.m.: Another aircraft with tail number N630VA, believed to be carrying deportees, departs Harlingen. Later, government attorneys affirm this flight was not part of the deported group under the newly implemented statute.
—8:02 p.m.: The plane with tail number N837VA lands in El Salvador.
—9:46 p.m.: The plane with tail number N630VA reaches Honduras.
—10:41 p.m.: The aircraft with tail number N278GX leaves Honduras.
**Sunday, March 16**
—12:05 a.m.: The aircraft with tail number N278GX lands in El Salvador.
—12:41 a.m.: Aircraft with tail number N630VA departs from Honduras.
—1:03 a.m.: The flight with tail number N630VA lands in El Salvador.
—7:46 a.m.: El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele shares a New York Post headline on social media, noting Boasberg’s plane turnaround order, adding “Oopsie … Too late” with a laughing emoji.
—8:13 a.m.: Bukele shares footage highlighting deportee arrivals and intake at a prominent national prison.
—8:39 a.m.: Secretary of State Marco Rubio shares Bukele’s tweet.
—9:29 a.m.: The White House Communications director also shares Bukele’s mocking post.
**Monday, March 17**
—5 p.m.: A hearing convenes on the “possible defiance” of Boasberg’s court order. Government attorneys argue his verbal instructions were not binding, highlighting the necessity to follow only the written command and indicating they cannot disclose travel specifics due to national security concerns. Boasberg criticizes this stance as “a stretch.” ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt forewarns of nearing a constitutional crisis.
—About 12:30 p.m.: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt updates reporters stating that approximately 261 individuals were deported via flights, with 137 removed under the Alien Enemies Act.
**Tuesday, March 18**
—8:05 a.m.: Trump attacks Judge Boasberg on the Truth Social platform, demanding his impeachment.
—11:56 a.m.: Chief Justice John Roberts refutes impeachment calls in a rare public letter, clarifying that impeachment isn’t a valid response to court decisions, emphasizing the appellate review process.
—Around midday: Boasberg instructs the administration to disclose further information about the first two flights, detailing their exit from U.S. airspace, landing in foreign regions, and the timing of under-proclamation deportees’ handovers from U.S. custody, with a response deadline set for Wednesday noon.
**Wednesday, March 19**
—About 8 a.m.: The Justice Department challenges Boasberg’s directive, claiming it constitutes undue encroachment on executive authority.
—About 10:30 a.m.: Boasberg rejects the Justice Department’s suspension plea, extending the deadline by one more day due to unconvincing initial arguments.
**Thursday, March 20**
—About 3 p.m.: Boasberg denotes the administration’s response to his inquiries on flight turnaround as “woefully insufficient.”
**Friday, March 21**
—At around 10:30 a.m.: Justice Department lawyers indicate consideration of invoking the “state secrets privilege” in response to Boasberg’s inquiries.
—About 3 p.m.: During a lawsuit hearing challenging the deportations, Boasberg insists on obtaining answers concerning alleged disobedience to his plane turnaround order, vowing to ascertain accountability and potential penalties.