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Federal Appeals Court Vacates Contempt Charges
In April 2025, Judge Boasberg found there was probable cause to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against Trump administration officials. He accused them of willfully disregarding his March 15 order to halt deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act, even after he directed officials to return planes already airborne carrying Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador.
On August 8, 2025, a divided D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned that contempt finding:
Judges Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao (both Trump appointees) ruled Boasberg had overstepped judicial authority and intruded on the executive branch’s foreign affairs powers, recommending the contempt proceedings be terminated.
Judge Cornelia Pillard (appointed by Obama) dissented, warning that tolerating defiance of court orders could erode judicial authority.
The appeals court also vacated a separate June ruling by Boasberg that required the Trump administration to ensure due process for the deported Venezuelans. The panel cited a change in circumstances, namely, that the deportees had been returned to Venezuela under a new U.S./Venezuela agreement. The case was remanded for further proceedings.
In essence, the contempt charges Boasberg sought to pursue were effectively dropped when the appeals court nullified his finding, though the legal proceedings themselves may continue in modified form.
Related Articles
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Venezuelan/American Exchange
- (1) Lucas Hunter – A 37‑year‑old dual U.S.–French national who was detained after accidentally crossing into Venezuela while windsurfing and motorcycling near the Colombian border
- (2) Wilbert Joseph Castañeda – A former U.S. Navy SEAL arrested in Caracas last August while visiting a friend
- (3) Jorge Marcelo Vargas
- (4) Jonathan Pagan Gonzalez
- (5) Ronald Oribio Quintana
- (6) Erick Oribio Quintana
- (7) Fabian Buglione Reyes
- (8) Renzo Humanchumo Castillo
- (9) Juan Jose Faria Bricen
- (10) Danud Hanid Ortiz
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By the Numbers
261 individuals were reportedly sent to El Salvador on March 15/16th 2025.
The March 20th, CBS List of leaked Venezuelans has the names of 238 Venezuelans.
On March 24th, ABC News published this story about 8 Venezuelans and 1 Nicaraguan that were refused by El Salvador and have given an account of what transpired on the plane ride to El Salvador.
On April 14th the White House released a Press Release, No Safe Harbor for Illegal Immigrant Criminals Under President Trump which listed x people. 10 Venezuelans and 12 Salvadoreans. Only 2 individuals names appear both on the CBS List and the Whitehouse Press Release, they are: Maiker Espinoza Escalona and
Venezuela typically reports 252 but occasionally 253 is also mentioned.
The Whitehouse Press Release links to this New York Post article, dated April 14, 2025, and titled – 11 more violent illegal migrants — including 7 Tren de Aragua gangbangers — deported from US to El Salvador over the weekend but only lists 2 individuals by name.
- Daniel Alexander Fernandez-Rodriguez – a suspected TdA member who was nabbed in the Big Apple last year for grand larceny and a robbery, the official said. He was later arrested in Illinois, too, for burglary and obstructing justice.
- Jose Santos Robles had been convicted of raping a 15-year-old in New York in 2016. Robles, who had no apparent gang ties, was sentenced to 10 years’ probation for third-degree rape, according to the official.
- 1 Manuel Quijada-Leon
- 2 Irvin Quintanilla-Garcia
- 3 Jose Ramirez-Iraheta
- 4 Josue Rivera-Portillo
- 5 Jorge Rodriguez Gomez
- 6 Mario Jeavanni Rojas
- 7 Edgar Leonel Sanchez Rosales
- 8 Brandon Sigaran-Cruz
- 9 Miguel Enriquez Saravia
- 10 Abraham Hernandez-Mania
- 11 Jean Morales-Loaiza
- 12 Nelson Alfaro-Orellana
- 13 Jhonnarty Pachecho-Chirinos
- 14 Cristian Alpe-Tepas
- 15 Jordyn Alexander Alvarez
- 16 Jose Alvarez Gonzalez
- 17 Wilfredo Avendano Carrizalez
- 18 Jose Gregorio Buenano Cantillo
- 19 Istmar Campos Mejia
- 20 Jose Chanta-Ochoa
- 21 Keider Alexander Flores Navas
- 22 Noe Florez-Valladares
- 23 Miguel Fuentes-Lopez
- 24 Roberto Interiano Uceda
- 25 Jose Lopez Cruz
- 26 Diego Maldonado-Fuentes
- 27 William Martinez-Ruano
- 28 Osmer Mejias-Ruiz
- 29 Iran Ochoa Suescun
- 30 David Orantez Gonzalez
- 31 Ariadny Araque-Cerrada
- 32 Elena Cuenca Palma
- 33 Maria Franco Pina
- 34 Mayerkis Guariman Gonzalez
- 35 Wilmary Linares-Marcano
- 36 Scarlet Mendoza Pere
- z 37 Ofreilimar Peña Boraure
- 38 Edilianny Stephany Rivero Sierralta
- 39 Dioneli Sanz Aljorna
- 40 Anyeli Sequera Ramirez
- 41 Yanny Suarez Rodriguez
- 42 Karla Villasmil-Castellano
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Nigerian President Refuses 300 Venezuelans
“I can’t do nuttin’ for ya man”, Nigerian Minister quotes Flavour Flav in rejection of Trump policyAccording to this article, the Trump administration was pressuring African nations during a White House Summit (July 9 -11) to accept 300 Venezuelan ‘deportees’. [ Are they talking about a new set of Venezuelans or could they possibly be trying to relocate the men in El Salvador?]
Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar firmly rejected the offer by using a memorable quote from rapper Flavor Flav. remark, when he quoted rapper Flavor Flav:“[we] has problems of his own, I can’t do nuttin’ for ya man.”
Despite the firm “no” on deportations, Tuggar expressed Nigeria’s willingness to negotiate other matters—like gas exports with the U.S -
ACTION: OUT OF CECOT July 24th, 2025
Join cities nationwide sending a message to the president of El Salvador – Bring back all U.S. migrants illegally detained in the notorious CECOT prison. On July 24th, Nayib Bukele’s birthday, Wallingford Indivisible groups across the country will gather outside Salvadoran Consulates from noon to 1 p.m. Protests will take place outside Salvadoran consulates and embassies in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Bernardino, Denver, and other cities. Protesters will have the opportunity to write notes, which will be collected and hand-delivered to the consulates. Join us! -
CECOT – What’s the issue with this place?
What is this place?
CECOT (Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo) is a maximum-security prison located in San Salvador, El Salvador. Marketed by the Salvadorean government as a solution to gang violence, CECOT has drawn intense scrutiny for its conditions, lack of due process, and human rights violations.
What is the issue?
The facility currently houses thousands of men, many accused of gang affiliation or criminal activity, without having been formally charged or granted a hearing to determine their guilt or innocence. Detainees are held in complete isolation, under 24/7 surveillance, and reportedly subjected to torture, extreme overcrowding, malnutrition, abuse, and indefinite detention.
US Role and Alleged Abuse of Power
According to a whistleblower, during the Trump administration, the U.S. government used a little-known 18th-century law—the Alien Enemies Act—to deport Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador. This was allegedly done in direct violation of a federal court order, and the decision-makers involved reportedly dismissed legal concerns with the phrase: “F* the courts.”**
This raises urgent questions about:
- The legality of these deportations
- The responsibility of the U.S. for knowingly sending people into a system with no exit
- The complicity in potential human rights abuses
There is now a firsthand account from someone who appears to be the only known individual ever released from CECOT. Their testimony confirms what many fear: that CECOT is, in effect, a life sentence without trial. The Salvadorean government has publicly stated that the only way out of CECOT is “in a coffin”—a claim tragically echoed by this survivor, who described being told upon entry into the facility that this is a place where “those who enter never leave.”
link to new york times article, link to human rights reports about the facility.
OutofCECOT
All persons are entitled to due process
As of July 18th, after 125 Days, the kidnapped men are in Venezuela.
