The Trump administration on Monday repeatedly stonewalled a federal judge seeking answers about whether the government had violated his order barring the deportation of more than 200 noncitizens without due process, escalating a conflict that threatened to become a constitutional crisis.

Judge James Boasberg is demanding answers about the three planes that rushed Venezuelan nationals from the U.S. to El Salvador over the weekend.

A federal judge on Monday was incredulous at the contention by the Trump administration that his directive to turn around deportation flights wasn't binding because it was made verbally