Officials from the Trump administration could face criminal contempt charges for ignoring the orders of the judges to stop the deportation of alleged members of a Venezuelan gang, the judge said on Wednesday.

In a written ruling, US District Judge James Boasberg said there is "probable cause" to punish the officers. He accused them of demonstrating a "willful disregard" for his March 15 order that banned the deportations to El Salvador under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act., according to BBC.

Lawyers and family members of the deported migrants has pleaded that they are not gang members and were never given a chance to challenge the US government’s claims.

The Justice Department is appealing the decision to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Boasberg stated that the administration can still avoid contempt by executing his order—specifically, by giving the migrants the opportunity to contest their deportation in court.

He gave the administration until April 23 to explain its next steps or name the officials responsible for ignoring the order, who could then face prosecution, BBC reported.