Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirms deportations will continue, but flight plans remain uncertain amid legal challenges.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the press on Wednesday that Americans will see more deportations, but she did not confirm that the government will continue deportation flights under the Foreign Enemies Law, like those that took place to El Salvador last weekend, despite the judicial order temporarily blocking them.
“Americans can absolutely expect to see the continuation of the mass deportation campaign that has been successfully led by this president, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and also our Secretary of State Marco Rubio,” Leavitt told the press during a White House press conference.
She added that the government believes U.S. District Court judges like James Boasberg, who according to her block parts of Trump’s agenda, “are acting wrongly.”
TECULUCA, EL SALVADOR – MARCH 16: In this handout photo provided by the Salvadoran government, guards escort a newly admitted inmate allegedly linked to criminal organizations at CECOT on March 16, 2025, in Tecoluca, El Salvador. Trump’s administration deported 238 alleged members of the Venezuelan criminal organizations ‘Tren De Aragua’ and Mara Salvatrucha, with only 23 being members of the Mara. Nayib Bukele, president of El Salvador, announced that his government will receive the alleged members of the gang to be taken to CECOT. In February 2023, El Salvador inaugurated Latin America’s largest prison as part of President Nayib Bukele’s plan to fight gangs. (Photo by Salvadoran Government via Getty Images)
However, when asked whether the administration plans to continue deportation flights like those transporting migrants to El Salvador, Leavitt told the press: “We don’t have any flights planned specifically, but we will continue with mass deportations.”
Trump has taken to Truth Social to call Boasberg “corrupt” and demand his dismissal, prompting a rare reprimand from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
“Look, the president has made it clear that he believes this judge in this case should be removed,” Leavitt said, adding that although the president “has great respect for Chief Justice Roberts,” he believes it is “the responsibility of the Supreme Court to control these activist judges.”
Explanation of the Foreign Enemies Law:
The “Foreign Enemies Law” refers to a policy or legal provision that allows the deportation of foreign nationals who are considered a threat to national security or engaged in criminal activities linked to foreign entities. In this context, it appears to be referring to the deportation of alleged criminal gang members or foreign nationals tied to organized crime, such as the “Tren De Aragua” and “Mara Salvatrucha” organizations mentioned in the article. The law or policy enables mass deportations and is a point of contention, with some legal authorities blocking certain actions, as seen in this case. The law is controversial because it allows the government to take swift action against perceived foreign enemies, but it also faces legal challenges and debates about its fairness and its potential for abuse.
