A federal appeals court has delivered a major win for Trump-era officials, halting criminal contempt proceedings tied to a heated immigration battle.
In a 2-1 decision on Friday, the US DC Circuit Court of Appeals said District Judge James Boasberg, an Obama appointee, cannot move forward with plans to hold Trump administration officials in contempt over alleged violations of his orders earlier this year. The dispute centers on the government’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members in March, despite Boasberg’s order to pause removals.
Back in April, Boasberg ruled that “probable cause exists” to pursue contempt charges, accusing officials of ignoring his mid-March directive. But the appeals court – with two Trump-appointed judges siding with the Justice Department – wiped away that order, calling it an overstep into executive powers. Writing in a concurring opinion, Judge Greg Katsas said Boasberg’s initial order was too ambiguous and warned against judicial interference in foreign policy and criminal prosecution decisions. Katsas also stressed that the government’s actions “clearly and indisputably were not criminal.”
Judge Neomi Rao, also a Trump appointee, agreed contempt wasn’t the right tool here, cautioning it shouldn’t be used as a “backdoor” to enforce compliance. In dissent, Judge Nina Pillard defended Boasberg, saying he acted with composure under intense pressure and accusing the majority of undermining judicial authority.
The ruling is a setback for Boasberg, who has been in a tense legal standoff with the Trump administration over its handling of detainees under the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century wartime law. The same court also struck down a separate June order from Boasberg that required officials to give hundreds of Venezuelan migrants a chance to contest their “alien enemy” status. Those migrants had been flown to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT mega-prison in March but were later released and returned to Venezuela in exchange for 10 US nationals.
While the DC Circuit noted some migrants still want to pursue legal avenues to return to the US, it said changed circumstances “overtook the rationale” for Boasberg’s order. The Supreme Court has previously ruled that migrants targeted under the Alien Enemies Act must be allowed to file habeas petitions to challenge their removal, but it has not weighed in on whether Trump’s use of the law was proper.
Our @TheJusticeDept attorneys just secured a MAJOR victory defending President Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport illegal alien terrorists.
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed what we’ve argued for months: Judge Boasberg’s attempt to sanction the government…
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) August 8, 2025
Attorney General Pam Bondi called Friday’s ruling a “MAJOR victory” for Trump and his Justice Department, blasting Boasberg’s efforts as “failed judicial overreach.” For now, the appeals court’s decision halts any contempt proceedings and reinforces a broader pattern of Trump-appointed judges siding with executive power over judicial pushback in immigration enforcement disputes.
Leo Cruz brings sharp insights into the world of politics, offering balanced reporting and analysis on the latest policies, elections, and global political events. With years of experience covering campaigns and interviewing world leaders, Leo ensures readers are always informed and engaged.
