Whistleblower accuses DOJ official of planning to defy court orders on deportations

In early 2025, Erez Reuveni, a former attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, was dismissed after disclosing systemic misconduct within the agency regarding deportation cases. During a meeting on March 14, Reuveni asserted that Emil Bove, a principal deputy attorney general and nominee for a federal judgeship, suggested the department should violate court orders aimed at halting deportations to El Salvador. This meeting occurred as the administration was contemplating the invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to expedite deportations of noncitizens. Following these discussions, Reuveni was placed on administrative leave and subsequently fired. He their alleged lack of transparency and planned disregard for judicial rulings, emphasizing that such actions contravened ethical obligations toward the court. Reuveni had previously admitted in court that the government mistakenly deported an immigrant to El Salvador after a judge ordered his release. The case raised serious legal questions about the Trump administration's immigration enforcement strategies and led to assertions of widespread defiance against judicial regulations by DOJ leadership. The allegations have prompted significant scrutiny around Emil Bove's nomination, with concerns that confirming him to a lifetime judicial position could normalize conduct undermining the rule of law. Bove has denied the allegations, labeling Reuveni’s claims as false and motivated by personal grievances. Nonetheless, the situation raised broader ethical concerns about the respect for judiciary authority within the executive branch, particularly regarding immigration issues that have become points of contention under the Trump administration.