Luke Broadwater

They were over international waters, they argue. And so maybe it wasn't a violation of the judge's order. These are the arguments the Trump administration puts forth.

They were over international waters, they argue. And so maybe it wasn't a violation of the judge's order. These are the arguments the Trump administration puts forth.

Almost every legal expert I talked to said the same thing. And in fact, the judge also wasn't really buying it. He, from the bench, called it a heck of a stretch.

Almost every legal expert I talked to said the same thing. And in fact, the judge also wasn't really buying it. He, from the bench, called it a heck of a stretch.

Right. The Trump administration is arguing that I guess the judge's jurisdiction doesn't extend beyond American soil. And so once the planes got out of American airspace, that they were no longer subject to the order. Again, every legal expert I talked to says that the judge's orders apply to the American government and the government has to follow them. And so I

Right. The Trump administration is arguing that I guess the judge's jurisdiction doesn't extend beyond American soil. And so once the planes got out of American airspace, that they were no longer subject to the order. Again, every legal expert I talked to says that the judge's orders apply to the American government and the government has to follow them. And so I

If he ordered the plane to turn around, they should have immediately gotten that message to the personnel on the plane and turned those planes around. But this is the argument the Trump administration is making. And the judge has not yet ruled on that, whether or not they're correct or incorrect. So, you know, despite what legal experts are saying, it still is an open matter before this judge.

If he ordered the plane to turn around, they should have immediately gotten that message to the personnel on the plane and turned those planes around. But this is the argument the Trump administration is making. And the judge has not yet ruled on that, whether or not they're correct or incorrect. So, you know, despite what legal experts are saying, it still is an open matter before this judge.

Well, we spent a lot of time researching this, looking at flight logs and determining exactly when these planes took off from Texas, where they went, when they landed there. And we can say pretty definitively that two of the planes were in fact in the air before both the verbal order and the written order began.

Well, we spent a lot of time researching this, looking at flight logs and determining exactly when these planes took off from Texas, where they went, when they landed there. And we can say pretty definitively that two of the planes were in fact in the air before both the verbal order and the written order began.

But there's a third plane, and that plane does not leave Texas, does not leave the ground of America until after the judge's written order is posted online.

But there's a third plane, and that plane does not leave Texas, does not leave the ground of America until after the judge's written order is posted online.

Well, at first glance, it seems like that. But the Trump administration argues this third plane is not subject to the judge's order. And they say that they specifically put migrants on that plane who they were deporting for reasons that were not solely related to to these wartime powers that were invoked by President Trump.

Well, at first glance, it seems like that. But the Trump administration argues this third plane is not subject to the judge's order. And they say that they specifically put migrants on that plane who they were deporting for reasons that were not solely related to to these wartime powers that were invoked by President Trump.

They're saying that those migrants on the third plane did in fact have due process. And so, yes, they left after the judge's order, but ICE went through, determined that they could still be deported even with the judge's order halting the flights. So they're arguing that this third flight technically is not covered by the judge's order and therefore did not violate it.

They're saying that those migrants on the third plane did in fact have due process. And so, yes, they left after the judge's order, but ICE went through, determined that they could still be deported even with the judge's order halting the flights. So they're arguing that this third flight technically is not covered by the judge's order and therefore did not violate it.

So the judge is frustrated that there isn't more information provided, and he demands the government present a sworn statement attesting that they, in fact, didn't put anyone on this third plane who was being deported under Donald Trump's new order. And the government does, on Tuesday—

So the judge is frustrated that there isn't more information provided, and he demands the government present a sworn statement attesting that they, in fact, didn't put anyone on this third plane who was being deported under Donald Trump's new order. And the government does, on Tuesday—

issue a sworn statement attesting that they didn't violate the order with this third plane but they do not go along with the other part of the judge's order which is the judge wanted a lot more details about who these people were on the plane under what authorities they are being removed and The judge even offered to say, well, we can do it in closed hearing.

issue a sworn statement attesting that they didn't violate the order with this third plane but they do not go along with the other part of the judge's order which is the judge wanted a lot more details about who these people were on the plane under what authorities they are being removed and The judge even offered to say, well, we can do it in closed hearing.