Federal Judge to Move Forward With Criminal Contempt Inquiry Over Deportation Flights

An appeals court paused the inquiry earlier this year, but said on Nov. 14 it he could proceed.

James Boasberg, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, at the American Board Association Spring Antitrust Meeting in Washington on April 2, 2025. Drew Angerer/AFP via Getty Images

A federal judge said on Nov. 19 that he intends to move ahead with a criminal contempt-of-court inquiry to find out why government officials ignored his order halting the deportation of a group of illegal immigrants to El Salvador earlier this year.

“I certainly intend to find out what happened on that day,” U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said during a hearing on Wednesday.