Trump had singled out U.S. District Court Judge Jeb Boasberg, who days earlier had ordered the administration to temporarily halt deportation flights of alleged Venezuelan gang members. Boasberg was seeking information on the detainees, who were arrested and removed without any due process under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

Donald Trump has promised that his administration will not openly defy court orders, despite declarations from top aides that they do not care about judges’ decisions, amid a slew of rulings across the country against immigrant deportations and federal firings.