U.S. District Judge James Boasberg questioned Trump administration attorneys about whether they violated a court order blocking deportations under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act.
The case involves the deportation of Venezuelan nationals, including suspected gang members, despite a temporary injunction halting such removals.
Boasberg expressed concerns that the government may have acted in bad faith, citing the deportations of over 100 Venezuelans on March 15, after the injunction was issued. He pressed Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign for details on the deportations, who struggled to explain why flight information had not been provided to the court, even if it was not classified.
The judge raised the possibility of contempt proceedings and is expected to make a decision next week on whether to pursue them. The hearing is part of ongoing legal challenges over the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act for deportations.
