A US federal appeals court has blocked a lower court judge from pursuing contempt proceedings against President Donald Trump’s administration over last year’s deportation of Venezuelan immigrants, according to multiple reports.
Key Takeaways
A US appeals court blocked a lower court judge from pursuing contempt proceedings against President Trump’s administration over last year’s deportation of Venezuelan immigrants. The ruling came in a 2-1 decision, with the majority arguing that Judge Boasberg's efforts were an abuse of discretion and intrusive into executive branch deliberations. Critics argue the decision undermines judicial authority and sets a dangerous precedent.
The ruling came in a two-to-one decision on Tuesday by an appeals panel in Washington, DC. The majority ruled that District Judge James Boasberg's efforts amounted to a “clear abuse of discretion.” Judges Neomi Rao and Justin Walker, both Trump appointees, authored the majority opinion.
The case centers on the March 2025 removal of 137 Venezuelan nationals, who the Trump administration accused of links to the Tren de Aragua gang. The group was deported to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 law that grants presidents broad powers during wartime or invasion.
Boasberg had sought to determine whether officials violated his order on March 15, 2025, to turn around two deportation flights to El Salvador while they were already in the air. However, Judge Neomi Rao wrote in Tuesday’s majority decision that Boasberg’s order did not explicitly prevent the Trump administration from transferring the immigrants into El Salvador’s custody.
The ruling has sparked criticism from civil rights groups and legal experts who argue it undermines judicial authority and sets a dangerous precedent for future contempt proceedings. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) attorney Lee Gelernt described the opinion as “a blow to the rule of law.”
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