This is what the Supreme Court deserves.
A prominent federal judge appointed by President Donald Trump is raising serious concerns after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the swift deportation of Venezuelan migrants — some suspected of gang activity — under a historic national security law.
Judge James Ho, a respected voice on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, accused the Supreme Court of undermining both the rule of law and the authority of the Trump administration.
“I’m deeply concerned by the disrespect shown toward the President and the district court in this case,” Ho wrote in a powerful opinion released Tuesday. “Without respect for the judiciary, our system of government cannot survive.”
The decision came after the high court, in a 7-2 ruling, halted deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century law designed to protect the nation during times of war and crisis. The Biden-aligned ACLU had rushed to court claiming the migrants, detained in Texas, were being flown out too quickly. The Supreme Court intervened — overnight — to block their removal.
Border security advocates and legal experts say the ruling undermines the administration’s ability to act decisively against dangerous foreign nationals. Many conservatives fear this is part of a broader trend of judicial activism interfering with national security and immigration enforcement.
Judge Ho did not hold back. In his seven-page opinion, he questioned why former Democrat presidents — Clinton, Obama, and Biden — were never treated with such hostility when commenting on active court cases.
“Why is President Trump being denied the same respect given to his predecessors?” he asked.
The Supreme Court’s move comes as America faces a growing border crisis, with record numbers of illegal crossings and an overwhelmed immigration system.
Ho, widely considered a strong candidate for the U.S. Supreme Court if a vacancy opens during Trump’s second term, also criticized the idea that federal judges must be available at all hours to respond to late-night filings.
“This is a federal court, not a 24-hour diner,” Ho said sharply. “It’s unreasonable to expect judges to monitor their dockets in the middle of the night.”
Despite his disagreement with the ruling, Ho affirmed that lower courts are obligated to follow the Supreme Court — even when the decision appears misguided.
Moving forward, the 5th Circuit is scheduled to determine whether President Trump can legally invoke the Alien Enemies Act to protect the country — and whether the Venezuelan migrants are owed any additional legal notice before removal.
This case could have major implications for how future administrations, especially under Trump, deal with illegal immigration, gang crime, and national security threats at the southern border.
For conservatives concerned about the direction of the courts and the fight for law and order, this battle may just be the beginning.
