The problem’s not Trump deporting Tren de Aragua gang members – that’s a good idea. The problem’s how he did it.

Locked in jail five deportees sued, told the judge they were not Tren de Aragua gang members – all Trump had to do was prove they were. But didn’t.

So staring at Trump’s lawyers the judge ordered a ‘pause’ – not a stop but a pause – in the deportations so he could hear more evidence, settle the case. Trump started down a dicey road. Disobeyed the judge’s order. Deported away.

That turned into a problem. By disobeying the order Trump took an old power away from the courts and handed it to the president, tossing the ‘separation of powers doctrine’ out the window.

So now this boils down to a raw fight over power.

Trump has plenty of ways to deport illegal immigrants. Having to do things the right way may make it harder to get what he wants. But giving him – or any president – the power to overrule a judge torpedoes the separation of powers doctrine. Are we better off without it?

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Telling stories, in his memoir Carter Wrenn follows The Trail of the Serpent twisting and turning through politics from Reagan to Trump. Order his book from Amazon.