U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled there’s enough evidence to move forward with criminal contempt proceedings against the Trump administration. The reason? Officials defied a court order and deported more than 130 Venezuelan migrants to a prison in El Salvador—without giving them a chance to defend themselves.
In a decision released Wednesday, Boasberg slammed the administration for what he called a “willful disregard” of his March order, which had blocked the migrant transfer. The migrants were flown to CECOT, a high-security prison in El Salvador, after Trump invoked the rarely used Alien Enemies Act.
Boasberg isn’t buying the excuses. For weeks, he’s been pressing officials in court: When did the flights begin? Who approved them? No one has answered. Prosecutors have claimed they don’t know or say the information is classified.
He’s had enough. Boasberg is now giving the administration a deadline: Turn over the information by April 23, or face the consequences. If they fail to comply, prosecutors must file a sworn statement naming the person who made the decision to ignore the court order.
Boasberg made it clear: the rule of law applies to everyone.
“The foundational ‘rule of law,’” he wrote, “reflects a belief that in the fair administration of justice no man can be judge in his own case,” regardless of how “exalted his station” or how “righteous his motives.”
This case could set the stage for a legal showdown over how far Trump officials went—and what happens when they ignore the courts.
This story is still developing and will be updated.
