We have major breaking news out of Washington, D.C. Chief Judge James Boasberg has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court for defying his previous order to turn around deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act. The ruling stems from the administration’s refusal to comply with a judicial directive to halt the removal of individuals whose cases are still under active litigation.
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According to the ruling, Judge Boasberg determined that the evidence presented shows a willful defiance of the court’s authority. He cited specific examples, including the administration’s reaction to the violation—highlighting a celebratory tweet from El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele that was amplified by U.S. officials as deportation planes landed despite the judge's clear order.
In an extraordinary move, the judge has given the administration until April 23rd to provide detailed documentation of the steps it has taken to purge the contempt. This includes identifying which administration officials had knowledge of the court’s order and still allowed—or participated in—the defiance. The ruling indicates that without meaningful action, further criminal proceedings may follow.
This latest escalation is part of a broader constitutional crisis surrounding the Trump administration’s sweeping deportation policy and growing judicial resistance. Legal analysts warn this could set the stage for unprecedented showdowns between the executive branch and the judiciary in the weeks ahead.
Read the full order here.
More updates to follow as this story develops.
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