Appeals Court Halts Contempt Probe Over Trump Deportation Flights
A divided D.C. Circuit panel blocked a contempt inquiry into March 2025 deportation flights, citing separation-of-powers and ambiguity in a March 15, 2025 order.
New York PostAppeals court rules Judge James Boasberg abused his power, ordered to end criminal contempt probe against Trump officials
Al JazeeraUS appeals court blocks contempt case over Trump deportation flights
The FederalistCourt Torches Boasberg For Targeting Trump Immigration Officials
Hot Air'Intrusive': DC Appeals Court Slaps Down President Boasberg – Again
Overview
A federal appeals court blocked a lower court judge from pursuing criminal contempt proceedings into the Trump administration's March 2025 deportation flights, issuing a two-to-one decision on Tuesday.
The appeals court majority said Judge James Boasberg abused his discretion by investigating whether officials violated his March 15, 2025 order to turn around two deportation flights to El Salvador.
Judges Neomi Rao and Justin Walker formed the majority, with Judge J. Michelle Childs dissenting, and the court warned that further inquiry risked intruding into executive deliberations on national security and foreign affairs.
The case stems from the March 2025 removal of roughly 137 to more than 200 Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act and the migrants' subsequent detention and July 2025 release to Venezuela.
Lawyers for the migrants said they would ask the full circuit court to review the panel's decision, and litigation over orders requiring returns of some removed migrants remains pending.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources show neutral coverage, presenting competing legal arguments and direct quotations rather than editorializing. The article cites the appeals panel's reasoning ("clear and indisputable"), plaintiffs' criticism ("a blow to the rule of law"), Boasberg's concerns and Childs's dissent, and notes judicial nominations for context without adopting partisan language.