An Obama-appointed federal judge has found “probable cause” to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt, claiming officials violated a restraining order by deporting gang members to El Salvador last month.

Judge James Boasberg ruled Wednesday that Trump officials defied his March 15 court order by putting two planeloads of alleged Tren de Aragua gang members on flights out of the country. The move, he said, showed “willful disregard” for the court’s authority.

“The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily,” Boasberg wrote. “The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders — especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it.”

This clash isn’t new. The Supreme Court recently sided with the Trump administration in a separate case, tossing out Boasberg’s earlier orders under the argument that he lacked jurisdiction. But Boasberg fired back, saying that decision “does not excuse” the alleged violation of his injunction.

To avoid criminal contempt charges, the judge ordered the administration to either reclaim custody of the deported individuals and give them a chance to challenge their removal—or identify which officials authorized the deportation in defiance of the court.

Boasberg dismissed claims that the court overstepped by interfering in immigration enforcement, insisting the TRO was lawful and within the court’s power. “It in no way invaded any Article II powers,” he wrote, pushing back on arguments from Trump attorneys that the judge had infringed on executive authority.

The White House hit back hard. Communications Director Steven Cheung said the administration will seek immediate appellate relief. “The President is 100% committed to ensuring that terrorists and criminal illegal migrants are no longer a threat to Americans and their communities across the country,” Cheung said.

This standoff comes amid a series of legal collisions between the Trump administration and activist judges. Just this week, Trump officials challenged efforts to force the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia—an alleged MS-13 member mistakenly deported to El Salvador. The Supreme Court has ordered a lower court to clarify its ruling, but the administration insists Garcia should not be allowed back into the U.S.

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele made his position clear during a meeting with Trump on Monday, saying he would not “smuggle” a criminal back into the United States just to satisfy a federal judge.

Despite the pressure, the Trump administration remains focused on its core mission: removing violent criminals who entered the country illegally. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and top advisor Stephen Miller have publicly estimated that more than 15 million illegal migrants have entered under Biden, with the true number closer to 21 million.

Boasberg’s ruling could now set the stage for a direct constitutional confrontation over immigration enforcement and the balance of power between the courts and the executive branch. But to millions of Americans demanding stronger borders, the message from Trump’s team is simple: no judge is going to stop them from protecting this country.