Overview
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem acknowledged in a court filing that she decided to continue transferring detainees to El Salvador despite Judge James Boasberg’s directive to return the planes.
- Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Emil Bove declined to detail their legal advice to Noem, asserting attorney–client and deliberative privileges in declarations to the court.
- Justice Department lawyers argued that compelling live testimony from senior officials would be prejudicial and constitutionally improper, saying the court already has enough information to make any referral.
- Judge Boasberg has restarted a fact-finding inquiry into whether officials defied his order and should face a contempt referral, following appellate rulings that allowed the inquiry to proceed.
- The dispute stems from March removals under the Alien Enemies Act that sent two flights of mostly Venezuelan detainees to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, a policy now challenged in court by the ACLU.