A U.S. judge has signaled that he could hold the Trump administration in contempt of court for “willful disregard” of a previous order to halt the departure of deportation flights carrying more than 200 people to El Salvador last month.
The administration had invoked a 227-year-old law, the Alien Enemies Act, meant to protect the U.S. during wartime, to carry out the mass deportation. However, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg expressed frustration with the government’s actions, stating that the court had given the administration ample opportunity to rectify or explain its actions, but none of their responses were satisfactory.
“The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily; indeed, it has given Defendants ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions. None of their responses has been satisfactory,” Boasberg wrote in his ruling.
The White House has since indicated its intention to contest the judge’s decision. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung stated, “We plan to seek immediate appellate relief,” referring to a process in which a higher court could review and potentially change the decision made by a lower court.
Judge Boasberg’s decision to begin contempt proceedings escalates the ongoing clash between the White House and the judiciary over the limits of presidential power. If the Trump administration fails to provide an explanation for its actions by the deadline of April 23, Boasberg has indicated that he will seek to identify those responsible for ignoring the court’s order and may recommend prosecutions for those involved.
The March deportation flights, which saw over 200 Venezuelans accused of being gang members sent to a jail in El Salvador, were conducted after Boasberg imposed a temporary restraining order on the use of the wartime law and a 14-day halt on deportations covered by the proclamation. Despite the judge’s order, the flights departed for El Salvador, prompting the judge to take further action.
Boasberg’s ruling follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that Trump could use the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to conduct the deportations to El Salvador. However, Boasberg argued that the administration’s violation of the original order remained unresolved, despite the Supreme Court’s finding.
The White House denied violating the court’s ruling, with U.S. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating, “The administration did not ‘refuse to comply’ with a court order.” Leavitt also claimed the order had no lawful basis and was issued after the deportations had already been carried out.
Trump, in response to the court proceedings, took to TruthSocial, labeling Judge Boasberg a “troublemaker and agitator” and calling for his impeachment. Meanwhile, El Salvador has agreed to accept the deportees in exchange for $6 million.
Earlier this week, Trump met with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele at the White House and expressed an interest in sending additional deportation flights to the country.
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