The Justice Department on Tuesday said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was the Trump administration official behind the decision not to comply with a federal judge’s order to halt the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act.

In a court filing, the Justice Department said that administration officials conveyed Judge James Boasberg’s March 15 oral order to return to the U.S. alleged Venezuelan members of the Tren de Aragua gang, and the subsequent written order from the same day that blocked the federal government from removing members subject to the Alien Enemies Act under President Donald Trump’s invocation of the 18th century law.

The filing said DOJ officials relayed the order and provided legal advice to the acting general

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