US judge James Boasberg finds probable cause to hold Donald Trump officials in criminal contempt over deportations

US district judge James Boasberg on Wednesday ruled that "probable cause exists" to hold officials from US President Donald Trump's administration in criminal contempt for violating court orders that blocked the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members under the Alien Enemies Act.

Boasberg said the officials willfully disregarded his order from mid-March, which had halted the use of the 18th-century law to deport the migrants. Despite the ruling, the government went ahead and sent three planes of migrants to a prison in El Salvador, sparking political and legal outrage.

In a sharply worded decision, Boasberg wrote, "The Court ultimately determines that the Government’s actions on that day demonstrate a willful disregard for its Order, sufficient for the Court to conclude that probable cause exists to find the Government in criminal contempt."

Boasberg said that his decision was not made lightly and noted that the justice department had been given "ample opportunity" to explain or correct the actions. "None of their responses has been satisfactory," he said.

The judge has not yet decided on the punishment or next steps, and is now giving the justice department a chance to respond before moving forward.