Federal judge calls hearing on Trump authority to deport alleged gang members, court blocking effort

A federal judge has called a hearing Monday on whether the Trump administration has the legal authority to deport alleged gang members and proceed with the effort – amid a judge temporarily halting the process. 

The hearing will take place in Washington, D.C., at 5 p.m. local time, according to NBC News. 

On Saturday, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued an order temporarily blocking the administration from using the 1789 Alien Enemies Act, which grants authority to deport illegal migrants without them having the opportunity to go before an immigration or federal court judge.

However, the flights were in the air at the time of the ruling. Lawyers told Boasberg on Saturday before he made the ruling that two planes with immigrants were in the air – one headed for El Salvador and the other to Honduras.

Another issue is Boasberg having verbally ordered the planes turned around and not including the directive in his written order

It was unclear early Monday whether the hearing will be in Boasberg's court.

An unnamed White House official has speculate the matter would likely be taken to the Supreme Court, according to the news outlet Axios.