Short Form: US Judge seeks to hold the Trump Administration in contempt of court
Washington judge James E. Boasberg threatened to open contempt proceedings against the Trump administration for violating court orders issued to stop the departure of deportation flights. Between March 15th and 16th, in what Boasberg described as 'willful disregard' of federal court orders; over 200 Venezuelan migrants were deported to El Salvador despite orders to halt the departures.
Boasberg claimed that he had found "probable cause[s]" to begin proceedings for contempt, demanding that the Venezuelan migrants be given chances to appeal for their deportation. The White House has denied any claim of violating court orders.
This attack comes amidst numerous attempts to hold the presidency accountable for its apparent violations and resistance to federal court orders, reflecting a wider battle between the US' executive and judicial branches. Nonetheless, the US Supreme Court deemed on April 8th that the Trump administration held the authority under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to justifiably deport the migrants. The Alien Enemies Act is a 227-year-old wartime law that empowered the presidential executive to deport any 'alien' or foreigner considered to be dangerous or a threat to American security.
Boasberg protested the Supreme Court's ruling, arguing that it "does not excuse the government's violation" and that it is a "foundational legal precept that every judicial order 'must be obeyed'". Boasberg offered the option for the White House to withdraw the deportation to comply with last month's order with the filing due by the 23rd April.
