Appeals court overturns judge’s contempt ruling against Trump administration in deportation case
A divided appeals court panel on Friday overturned a contempt ruling against President Donald Trump’s administration in a case involving deportations to a prison in El Salvador.
The case arose after planes carrying Venezuelan migrants landed at the prison despite a U.S. district judge’s order to return them to the United States.
U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg had found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt, marking a significant clash between the judiciary and the executive branch.
However, a split three-judge panel in Washington ruled that Boasberg had overstepped his authority and infringed on the executive branch’s power over foreign affairs.
Judges Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao, both appointed by Trump during his first term, supported the majority opinion, with Rao stating the contempt threat aimed to force the executive to engage diplomatically for custody over individuals held by a foreign government.
Judge Cornelia Pillard, appointed by former President Barack Obama, dissented, criticizing the majority for undermining the judge’s efforts to uphold judicial authority.
The Trump administration has denied violating the court order. The 250 migrants were sent back to their home country as part of a prisoner exchange after months of detention at El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT).
Boasberg had accused the administration of hastily deporting individuals under the Alien Enemies Act before they could challenge their removals and ignoring his order for planes already in flight to return.
Last month, the Justice Department filed a rare judicial misconduct complaint against Boasberg, seeking to remove him from the case pending investigation, citing comments he allegedly made during a closed judges’ meeting and his handling of the deportations case.
Attorney General Pam Bondi hailed the appeals court decision as a “major victory” defending Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act and pledged to “continue fighting and winning in court.”