A federal judge has instructed the Trump administration to explain why its failure to turn around flights carrying deportees to El Salvador did not violate his court order in a growing showdown between the judicial and executive branches.

The U.S. judge who temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from invoking wartime powers to deport migrants has for years handled high-stakes cases involving sensitive security or political issues - sometimes ruling in Trump's favor.

Chief US District Judge Jeb Boasberg is being singled out by President Donald Trump, his administration and his allies, after he temporarily blocked the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members.