Judge says Trump admin officials could face criminal contempt prosecution over Venezuela deportations

(Illustrative photo via DVIDS)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -     A U.S. federal judge on Wednesday found "probable cause" to hold President Donald Trump's administration in contempt of court for violating his order last month halting deportations of Venezuelan migrants under a wartime law.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington said the administration demonstrated "willful disregard" for his March 15 order barring the government from deporting Venezuelan alleged gang members to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act.

When Boasberg had issued the order, two planes of Venezuelans were on their way from the United States to El Salvador and had not returned to the United States. He said there was probable cause to find the government in criminal contempt.

"The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily; indeed, it has given Defendants ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions," Boasberg wrote in his ruling. "None of their responses has been satisfactory."

The Trump administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 (Reporting by Andrew Goudsward, Editing by Franklin Paul)