No contempt for Trump officials over Venezuela deportations, appeals court rules
US District Judge James Boasberg found in April that officials could face criminal contempt charges for willfully disregarding his 15 March order barring the deportations to El Salvador of alleged Venezuelan gang members under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act without the chance to challenge their removals.
The Trump administration appealed. On Friday, a three-judge panel of the DC Circuit US Court of Appeals sided with the government by a 2-1 vote.
'The District Court's order raises troubling questions about judicial control over core executive functions like the conduct of foreign policy and the prosecution of criminal offences,' Circuit Judge Gregory Katsas wrote in an opinion.
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