US judge finds probable cause to hold Trump officials in contempt over alien act deportations

A federal judge ruled that there is probable cause to hold Trump officials in criminal contempt for violating a temporary injunction that barred the use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members. The judge, James Boasberg, wrote that senior Trump officials must return those protected by his injunction or face contempt proceedings. He warned that if the administration tries to obstruct these proceedings or declines to file charges against responsible officials, he would appoint an independent prosecutor. Boasberg criticized the administration's excuses for not recalling deportation flights and rejected their claim that his authority ended once planes left U.S. airspace. He also dismissed efforts by the Trump administration to withhold information about the flights using the state secrets doctrine, as some details had already been publicly disclosed.