WASHINGTON: Trump administration officials could face criminal contempt charges for violating a US federal judge’s order halting deportations of alleged members of a Venezuelan gang who had no chance to challenge their removals, the judge said on Wednesday.

In a written ruling, US District Judge James Boasberg in Washington found “probable cause” to hold officials in criminal contempt of court, saying the administration demonstrated “willful disregard” for his March 15 order barring the government from deporting alleged members of a Venezuelan gang to El Salvador under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act.

Many of the migrants’ lawyers and family members say those deported are not gang members and were never given a chance to contest the US government’s assertion that they were.

The judge’s ruling is the closest any judge has come to suggesting the administration could be punished since President Donald Trump returned to the White House on January 20 and escalates the confrontation between the judicial and executive branches.

“It’s a very strong rebuke to the administration and opens the door for further proceedings to determine who, in fact, disregarded the orders,” said Professor Jonathan Hafetz at the Seton Hall University School of Law. He said it was another step toward an inevitable clash with the courts.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said on X the administration would seek immediate appellate relief.

The Trump administration faces more than 150 legal challenges to policies it has enacted during its first three months.

Democrats and some legal analysts have argued officials in some cases are dragging their feet in complying with unfavorable court orders, signaling a potential willingness to disobey an independent, co-equal branch of government.