Publisher's Synopsis
Flight to Defiance: Judge Boasberg, the Trump Administration, and the Battle Over Deportation Power
In the shadow of a little-known 18th-century law, a dramatic modern clash unfolded-one that tested the very limits of American democracy, executive power, and the rule of law. Flight to Defiance takes readers deep inside the explosive legal and political showdown between U.S. District Judge James Boasberg and the Trump Justice Department over the controversial use of the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) - a wartime statute originally crafted for foreign enemies during the nation's earliest days. Two centuries later, the Trump administration sought to resurrect the AEA to fast-track the deportation of Venezuelan migrants accused of gang affiliations - sparking a fierce courtroom battle with sweeping implications for immigration rights and constitutional governance. With unprecedented access to court documents, media coverage, and legal analysis, this book chronicles the dramatic Saturday night deportation flights that defied a federal judge's direct order, the ACLU's urgent fight for due process, and President Trump's incendiary call for Boasberg's impeachment. As accusations of constitutional crisis swirled, the case became a referendum on the balance of power in America - testing the strength of judicial independence against the weight of executive authority. Through sharp, engaging storytelling, Flight to Defiance explores: The origins and evolution of the Alien Enemies Act. The political strategy behind invoking the AEA in a volatile immigration battle. Judge Boasberg's scathing rebukes and rare confrontation with the Department of Justice. The media and political firestorm - from Attorney General Pam Bondi's defense of deportations to Chief Justice John Roberts' rare defense of judicial integrity. The broader stakes for constitutional law, civil liberties, and the future of presidential power. As the case rockets toward the appellate courts, Flight to Defiance forces readers to confront urgent questions: How far can a president go in the name of national security? Can the courts still hold the executive branch accountable? What happens when politics collides with the Constitution? Order a copy now!.
