A federal judge has signaled that criminal contempt charges may be on the horizon for Trump administration officials, after what he called a brazen and “willful disregard” of a court order halting deportations of Venezuelan migrants.
At the heart of this clash: a March 15 order by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, aimed at stopping removals under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. The administration barreled ahead anyway, deporting dozens of migrants—some allegedly linked to gangs, though many families and lawyers insist these individuals were wrongly labeled and never given a chance to contest it.
Now, Boasberg says there’s “probable cause” for criminal contempt. He’s given the administration until April 23 to comply or name those who greenlit the deportations, signaling they could be personally prosecuted.
And then there was the tweet. Secretary of State Marco Rubio retweeted Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s sarcastic “Oopsie…Too late” comment about the deportations, just after the court order. Boasberg didn’t miss it. “Boasts by Defendants intimated that they had defied the Court’s Order deliberately and gleefully,” he wrote, hammering home the seriousness of the violation.
The legal fuse, now lit, is burning fast. The Justice Department is appealing the ruling. Officials maintain Boasberg is overstepping. “A judicial power grab,” a department spokesperson called it. Meanwhile, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said the administration is seeking “immediate appellate relief.”
This isn’t the only courtroom where the administration’s tactics are under the microscope. A Maryland judge is examining whether officials defied an order to bring back a wrongly deported man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia. While no contempt ruling has emerged there—yet—Judge Paula Xinis has escalated her inquiry.
Back in Washington, Boasberg is prepared to act if the administration continues its defiance. He’s considering requiring sworn statements, possible testimony under oath, and even appointing a prosecutor if the Justice Department refuses to handle the case.
The judge’s warning lands at a tense moment. Since Trump’s return to office in January, his administration has been locked in over 150 legal battles. Critics argue it’s not just about policy—but about whether the administration is willing to follow court orders at all.
Boasberg’s rebuke is among the sharpest yet. And Trump’s response? He’s calling for Boasberg’s impeachment—a demand that earned an unusually pointed response from Chief Justice John Roberts, who reminded the public that courts are to be challenged through appeals, not vengeance.
At the center of the legal storm is a law with a dark history. The Alien Enemies Act was last used to detain and deport Japanese, German, and Italian nationals during World War II, including U.S. citizens. Now it’s back—and so are questions of civil liberties, government overreach, and how far executive power can stretch before it snaps.
Whether the administration backs down or doubles down remains to be seen. What’s certain is that one federal judge has had enough of the “Oopsie” approach to constitutional law.
