PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Far-left U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg says he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in contempt for not returning deportation planes to the U.S. as ordered.
👥 Who’s Involved: The Trump administration, U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, and the Justice Department (DOJ).
📍 Where & When: Deportations to El Salvador in March; the court order was announced on Wednesday, April 16.
💬 Key Quote: “The Court ultimately determines that the Government’s actions on that day demonstrate a willful disregard for its Order,” stated Judge Boasberg.
⚠️ Impact: The administration is instructed to file declarations or face potential prosecution. However, President Donald J. Trump holds the power to pardon people in federal contempt cases.
IN FULL:
Far-left U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg says he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in contempt over its alleged failure to comply with his court order requiring planes carrying illegal immigrants to El Salvador to turn around and return to the United States. The federal judge accuses the Trump White House of acting with “willful disregard” toward his March 15 order, which temporarily halted all deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act.
Despite Boasberg’s contention, the Trump administration argues the judge’s order came too late to turn around two planes carrying 261 illegal immigrants—including over 100 Venezuelan gang members—to El Salvador, where they are being housed in the country’s high-security CECOT prison facility. In a 48-page determination, the judge lays out his dubious criticism of the government for its actions and outlines steps for the administration to avoid prosecution.
Boasberg demands the Department of Justice (DOJ) submit additional declarations by April 23 to explain the circumstances surrounding non-compliance or face potential prosecution. “The Court ultimately determines that the Government’s actions on that day demonstrate a willful disregard for its Order, sufficient for the Court to conclude that probable cause exists to find the Government in criminal contempt,” the judge writes. Boasberg continued, explaining that if the DOJ does not explain why the court should not proceed with contempt charges, he will ask federal prosecutors to identify administration officials responsible for what he calls “contumacious conduct.”
“The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily; indeed, it has given Defendants ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions,” the Barack Obama-appointed judge concluded while declaring that the government’s responses so far have been unsatisfactory to the court.
In response, the White House swiftly announced plans to seek appellate relief. “We plan to seek immediate appellate relief,” Steven Cheung, White House Communications Director, announced in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He added: “The President is 100% committed to ensuring that terrorists and criminal illegal migrants are no longer a threat to Americans and their communities across the country.”
