What allows judges to order the executive branch to stop actions?

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Judicial review—the power of courts to strike down unlawful government actions—comes from the Constitution's structure (separation of powers) and Marbury v. Madison (1803), which established courts can say "what the law is." Judges issue injunctions (orders to stop or require specific actions) when they find government actions violate the Constitution or statutes. This includes restraining orders (emergency, temporary), preliminary injunctions (pre-trial), and permanent injunctions (final judgments). In immigration cases, judges review whether deportations follow statutory procedures and constitutional protections. Boasberg issued a restraining order on March 15 because he found the government likely violated due process by using the Alien Enemies Act against Venezuelans when the U.S. isn't at war with Venezuela. The power to enjoin executive actions is crucial to checking presidential power—without it, the executive could violate rights with impunity. But injunctions only work if officials obey them. Noem's defiance shows the limits of judicial power: courts issue orders, but enforcement depends on executive compliance or contempt consequences that DOJ (part of the executive) must prosecute.

What allows judges to order the executive branch to stop actions?

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