Overview

• US District Judge James Boasberg ruled there is probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt for defying his March 15, 2025, order to stop deportation flights.
• The administration deported over 100 Venezuelans, allegedly disregarding the judicial order, which was later lifted by the Supreme Court.
• Boasberg has given the administration two options: return the deported individuals or disclose the names of officials responsible for the violations.
• The judge criticized the administration's actions as a willful disregard for judicial authority, emphasizing that such disobedience undermines constitutional checks and balances.
• The administration defends its actions on national security grounds, citing the rarely used 1798 Alien Enemies Act as its legal basis for the deportations.