A fierce legal showdown has erupted in Washington after a U.S. federal judge accused the Trump administration of “wilful defiance” of a court order and threatened to hold officials in contempt over secret deportation flights that sent over 200 migrants to El Salvador in March.
In a blistering rebuke, Judge James Boasberg condemned the White House for ignoring his 15 March order blocking deportations under the rarely used 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a wartime statute invoked by Trump to justify the mass expulsion.
Despite the ruling, two government-chartered flights reportedly took off — packed with Venezuelan migrants the administration labelled as gang members.
“The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly,” Boasberg wrote, signalling that contempt proceedings are now on the table.
According to the BBC, the administration has until 23 April to explain itself or face possible legal action, including prosecutions of officials who authorised the flights.
Boasberg’s outrage remained even after the Supreme Court later ruled that Trump could use the ancient law to deport foreign nationals deemed dangerous.
That, Boasberg said, “does not excuse the Government’s violation” before the ruling.
The White House, however, is digging in. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the judge’s order as “lawless” and insisted the deportations were completed before the ruling came down.
“The administration did not refuse to comply,” she said.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung vowed to seek “immediate appellate relief,” adding that Trump is determined to remove “terrorists and criminal illegal migrants” from U.S. soil.
But the conflict has turned personal. Trump, in a fiery TruthSocial post, labelled Judge Boasberg a “troublemaker and agitator,” demanding his impeachment.
The deportees were flown to El Salvador under a controversial $6 million agreement with President Nayib Bukele, who met Trump at the White House days later.
Sources say Trump is now pushing for more such flights, despite the legal firestorm.
