Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem directed the transfer of hundreds of Venezuelan men to El Salvador, despite a federal judge's order to halt their deportation. This information was revealed in a recent court filing by the Justice Department. The deportations occurred in March, when the Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act to remove alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued an oral directive on March 15, followed by a written order, to stop the deportations. The judge's order aimed to protect the detainees' rights under the Alien Enemies Act, which allows for the removal of noncitizens with limited due process. However, the Justice Department stated that Noem was informed of the legal advice regarding the court's order and subsequently decided that detainees removed before the order could be sent to El Salvador.

The Justice Department's filing indicates that officials communicated Judge Boasberg's orders to Noem through the acting general counsel of the Department of Homeland Security. The filing also noted that the legal advice provided to Noem was deemed lawful and consistent with the court's order, as it did not require the return of individuals already removed from the U.S.

This court filing comes 255 days after the deportation flights took place, which involved 261 individuals being sent to El Salvador. Judge Boasberg is currently pursuing a contempt inquiry to determine if Trump administration officials violated his order. The Justice Department's disclosure aims to provide clarity on who made the final decision regarding the deportations.

In March, Judge Boasberg expressed concerns that the deportees likely did not receive due process. Despite this, the administration proceeded with the deportations, arguing that the judge's written injunction did not apply to those already removed. The Justice Department maintains that its actions were lawful and aligned with a reasonable interpretation of the court's directives.

The situation has drawn attention to the Trump administration's approach to immigration enforcement and its interactions with the judiciary. In April, the Supreme Court dismissed Boasberg's ruling but emphasized the necessity of due process for detainees.

A whistleblower has alleged that former Principal Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove suggested to subordinates that they might need to disregard court orders. Bove has denied these claims during his Senate confirmation hearings.

As the case progresses, Judge Boasberg is seeking to understand the events of March 15 and the reasons behind the noncompliance with his orders. An appeals court has allowed him to continue with contempt proceedings, and plaintiffs are looking to call several Trump administration officials to testify, including Bove and others involved in the legal advice process.