Boasberg floats contempt hearings on deportation flights, suspects ‘bad faith’ actions from Trump admin

The Hill ^ | 4/03/25 | Rebecca Beitsch

[Libloather]

U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg hinted at possible contempt proceedings as he grilled a government lawyer Thursday about whether the Trump administration violated his court order by failing to turn around planes carrying migrants to a Salvadoran prison.

Boasberg made no decisions following a court hearing even as he otherwise pushed the administration to detail its timeline and decision-making as it loaded more than 200 migrants onto a plane amid a court battle to block the deportations.

He pushed back when a Justice Department attorney said the administration followed the law and his orders.

“It seems to me there’s a fair likelihood that that is not correct, in fact that the government acted in bad faith throughout that day. If you really believed everything you did that day was legal and could survive a court challenge, I can’t believe you ever would have operated the way you did,” Boasberg said.

He dove into the timeline of the Trump administration’s actions, from signing an order igniting the Alien Enemies Act on Friday, March 14, but not publicizing it until the next day to preparations for flights even as Boasberg scheduled a hearing.

The law allows the government to swiftly deport citizens of an enemy nation. President Trump has maintained the Tren de Aragua gang is acting at the behest of the Venezuelan government, using the war powers to deport Venezuelans. It’s the only time the law has been used to address gang activity.

[Lurker]

Ignore his little hearing. Don’t send anyone.

L

[Albion Wilde]

You're welcome to enjoy and share a bunch of memes about ROGUE JUDGES—click here to see post 60.

[Blennos]

Great stuff. Thanks for posting.

[blackdog]

In related news, bank robbers everywhere have been up against bad faith law enforcement agencies, forcing judge to issue order for relief.

[Dr.Deth]

I only see 6 dots.

[Albion Wilde]

Glad you enjoyed. Use them again however you can!

[Dr. Franklin]

The judge needs to be reminded of that, publicly.
Maybe ask him if that is what he’d like to happen.
He’s a district judge who has gone way out on a limb by exercising his non-existent authority over the presidency on international and national security matters.

Trump could get everyone he wants to deport into a plane on the runway. Make a declaration of the suspension of habeas corpus, then revoke it once the plane reaches its destination. That would minimize the PR damage from doing that. Of course if the judge tries to interfere while habeas corpus is suspended, the judge could be locked up for the duration of the order. Let's see how much the judge likes being locked up.

[Vaduz]

Check

[unlearner]

That’s a great idea.

And it’s the kind of message that needs to be sent.

It would also be nice if the president followed up with a simple message that illegal immigrants, especially those who are an ongoing threat to our nation’s safety, WILL BE REMOVED.