Trump officials violated a US federal judge’s orders stopping deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg declared he had probable cause to hold the court in contempt because the deportees had no chance to challenge their deportations and prove their innocence according to the judge’s order.
The U.S. The Justice Department appealed to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, with Boasberg saying the administration could avoid being held in contempt if they made moves to follow the judge’s orders and give deportees a chance to challenge their removals in court.
Boasberg gave the administration until April 23 to outline what steps it would take to follow the judge’s direction or identify specifically what members of the administration disregarded his order to face potential prosecution. The judge also noted that Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, quoted a post on X where president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, posted a link talking about Judge Boasberg’s order to block the deportation with “Oopsie…Too late.” According to Boasberg, this tweet hinted to the judge that the administration knew of the judge’s order and blatantly decided to defy the ruling.
This interaction is causing an uproar on both sides, as another Justice Department spokesperson claims that Boasberg’s actions are an “underhanded attempt” to maintain power that the Justice Department will “fight by all means necessary.”
