WASHINGTON − A U.S. appeals court overturned a lower court's ruling finding probable cause to hold Trump administration officials incontempt of courtover their handling of the deportations of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants under a centuries-old wartime law. U.S. District JudgeJames Boasbergfound in April that officials could face criminal contempt charges for willfully disregarding his March 15 order barring the deportations to El Salvador of alleged Venezuelan gang members under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act without the chance to challenge their removals. The Trump administration appealed. On August 8, a three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals sided with the government by a 2-1 vote. "The District Court's order raises troubling questions about judicial control over core executive functions like the conduct of foreign policy and the prosecution of criminal offenses," Circuit Judge Gregory Katsas wrote in an opinion. More:Judge weighs disciplinary action for DOJ lawyers in Venezuelan deportations The Venezuelans were deported toa maximum security prisonin El Salvador built to hold terrorists. Boasberg, a prominent Washington, D.C., judge who has drawn PresidentDonald Trump's ire, said during a court hearing that a recent whistleblower complaint had strengthened the argument that Trump administration officials engaged in criminal contempt of court by failing to bring deportation flights back to the United States. Contributing: Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Trump officials dodge contempt ruling over Venezuelan deportations