Luke Broadwater

So as I said, it's a bit of a rush. The judge, James Boasberg, on Saturday night after the lawsuit is filed, sets up a hearing for the afternoon. Before that hearing can take place, the Trump administration quickly starts to deport Boasberg. people from jail cells in Texas.

So as I said, it's a bit of a rush. The judge, James Boasberg, on Saturday night after the lawsuit is filed, sets up a hearing for the afternoon. Before that hearing can take place, the Trump administration quickly starts to deport Boasberg. people from jail cells in Texas.

They line up vans, they take people to the airport, they start putting people on planes headed first for Honduras and then ultimately for El Salvador. And As the hearing gets underway, it's very clear right away that the judge has big concerns about what the administration is doing and starts to side with the ACLU. He starts to agree that there should be a halt on these decisions. deportations.

They line up vans, they take people to the airport, they start putting people on planes headed first for Honduras and then ultimately for El Salvador. And As the hearing gets underway, it's very clear right away that the judge has big concerns about what the administration is doing and starts to side with the ACLU. He starts to agree that there should be a halt on these decisions. deportations.

And at one point, he specifically orders the lawyers for the government to tell their clients who are the Trump administration and ICE to turn the planes around and get them back onto American soil so that these people can have a fair hearing. And the judge says that the government has to comply with this order immediately.

And at one point, he specifically orders the lawyers for the government to tell their clients who are the Trump administration and ICE to turn the planes around and get them back onto American soil so that these people can have a fair hearing. And the judge says that the government has to comply with this order immediately.

Well, the planes do not turn around. And we know this because the next morning, the president of El Salvador celebrates the arrival of these deportation flights into his country and sort of mocks the judge's order. He posts a link to an article about the planes being ordered to turn around and writes, oopsie, too late, with a laugh-crying emoji. And then...

Well, the planes do not turn around. And we know this because the next morning, the president of El Salvador celebrates the arrival of these deportation flights into his country and sort of mocks the judge's order. He posts a link to an article about the planes being ordered to turn around and writes, oopsie, too late, with a laugh-crying emoji. And then...

posts sort of dramatic video shot in this very cinematic style in which there's this tremendous show of force where you have men with guns and military fatigues taking these detainees off the American planes and into prisons in El Salvador and their frog marching them down the steps.

posts sort of dramatic video shot in this very cinematic style in which there's this tremendous show of force where you have men with guns and military fatigues taking these detainees off the American planes and into prisons in El Salvador and their frog marching them down the steps.

And it all looks very tough on crime and clearly meant to send a message that this is a major operation, that this president is aggressive and tough on criminals. And it's even retweeted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. And so it all feels like Rubio and the president of El Salvador are basically saying, we saw the judge's order, but we're not going to follow it. So this all feels intentional.

And it all looks very tough on crime and clearly meant to send a message that this is a major operation, that this president is aggressive and tough on criminals. And it's even retweeted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. And so it all feels like Rubio and the president of El Salvador are basically saying, we saw the judge's order, but we're not going to follow it. So this all feels intentional.

But there's still an open question as to whether the United States government specifically defied the judge's order. And that is the question the judge has on his mind when he summons the Trump administration back into court on Monday to answer the question of whether they knowingly and intentionally disobeyed a court order.

But there's still an open question as to whether the United States government specifically defied the judge's order. And that is the question the judge has on his mind when he summons the Trump administration back into court on Monday to answer the question of whether they knowingly and intentionally disobeyed a court order.

So this is a major hearing, and all of Washington is awaiting what the Trump administration will say. It seems pretty clear that the administration did not listen to the judge's order when he told them to turn around mid-flight because those flights we now know have landed in El Salvador. Mm-hmm. And so a lot of us were wondering, will the Trump administration apologize?

So this is a major hearing, and all of Washington is awaiting what the Trump administration will say. It seems pretty clear that the administration did not listen to the judge's order when he told them to turn around mid-flight because those flights we now know have landed in El Salvador. Mm-hmm. And so a lot of us were wondering, will the Trump administration apologize?

Will they say we got it wrong? We misunderstood. Will they openly defy the judge and say you have no power over us? And what actually happens is the Trump administration attempts to argue that they technically did comply with the judge's order.

Will they say we got it wrong? We misunderstood. Will they openly defy the judge and say you have no power over us? And what actually happens is the Trump administration attempts to argue that they technically did comply with the judge's order.

So yes, the judge told them to turn the planes around mid-flight, but they come up with the argument that he said that from the bench, that that was a verbal order. And 40 minutes later, he put out a very brief written order that didn't say turn the planes around. It just sided with the ACLU. And so they technically didn't disobey the written order, The planes were already in the air.

So yes, the judge told them to turn the planes around mid-flight, but they come up with the argument that he said that from the bench, that that was a verbal order. And 40 minutes later, he put out a very brief written order that didn't say turn the planes around. It just sided with the ACLU. And so they technically didn't disobey the written order, The planes were already in the air.