Judge Leans Toward Contempt Proceedings for Trump Admin in Venezuelan Deportations Case

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg suggested the administration acted in bad faith and didn’t comply with his order.

James Boasberg, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, attends a panel discussion at the annual American Board Association (ABA) Spring Antitrust Meeting at the Marriott Marquis in Washington on April 2, 2025. Drew Angerer/AFP via Getty Images

WASHINGTON—U.S. District Judge James Boasberg seemed inclined during a hearing on April 3 to find there was probable cause that President Donald Trump’s administration was in contempt of court by disobeying his order prohibiting deportations of suspected Venezuelan gang members under the Alien Enemies Act.

The Trump administration has said it didn’t violate two of Boasberg’s orders, which prohibited illegal immigrants from being deported under that particular law but allowed deportations under other authorities.