James Boasberg, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, attends a panel discussion at an annual American Board Association meeting in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. (Drew Angerer/AFP)
During the hearing, Ensign was repeatedly questioned about who in the Trump administration had information about the flights and when the three deportation flights left U.S. soil for El Salvador. At least 261 migrants were deported that day, including more than 100 Venezuelan nationals who were subject to removal "solely on the basis" of the law temporarily blocked by the court.
"You maintain that the government was in full compliance with the court’s order on March 15, correct?" Boasberg asked Ensign.
Ensign said yes, to which the judge responded: "It seems to me the government acted in bad faith that day."
"If you really believed everything you did that day was legal and would survive a court challenge, you would not have operated the way that you did," Boasberg said.
'WOEFULLY INSUFFICIENT': US JUDGE REAMS TRUMP ADMIN FOR DAYS-LATE DEPORTATION INFO
President Donald Trump, left, and U.S. District Judge James Boasberg. (Getty Images)
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He listed the names of the individuals, at Boasberg's request, which the judge then carefully transcribed onto a pad of paper, interjecting at times to clarify the spelling or ask for their job titles.
The hearing is the latest in a flurry of legal battles over the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act. It follows Boasberg’s order requiring officials to explain why they failed to comply with his directive to return the deportation flights — and whether they knowingly defied the court.
Boasberg told both sides he would see them again next week for arguments on the plaintiffs’ preliminary injunction motion, set for Tuesday.
The hearing also marks the latest clash between Trump and Boasberg, whom the president has publicly denounced as an "activist" judge and called for his impeachment.
Breanne Deppisch is a national politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering the Trump administration, with a focus on the Justice Department, FBI, and other national news.
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