US appeals court blocks contempt case over Trump deportation flights

A US appeals court blocked a contempt case against the Trump administration related to the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants in March 2025. The appeals court overturned a lower court judge's plan to investigate whether former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and others should face criminal contempt charges for allegedly violating an order to turn around two deportation flights to El Salvador. The appeals court ruled that the lower court's order was not explicit enough to warrant a contempt charge, stating it did not clearly prevent the transfer of immigrants to El Salvador's custody. The case involves 137 Venezuelan nationals deported under the Alien Enemies Act, accused of gang affiliations. The appeals court deemed the contempt inquiries "intrusive" and a potential risk to national security deliberations.

A divided appeals court panel has ordered a federal judge to end his contempt investigation into the Trump administration regarding deportation flights in March 2025. The investigation stemmed from allegations that the administration failed to comply with an order to turn around planes carrying Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that Chief Judge James Boasberg abused his discretion by pursuing criminal contempt proceedings. The majority opinion, written by Circuit Judge Neomi Rao, stated that the Trump administration has a "clear and indisputable" right to the termination of the contempt proceedings. The case was heard in the District of Columbia.