Judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Tuesday appeared receptive to allowing Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg to continue investigating who may have been responsible for an alleged violation of a court order tied to deportation flights carrying Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador.

The full appeals court is considering whether to overturn an earlier split-panel ruling that shut down Boasberg's investigation, with the majority previously arguing that the probe should be halted to prevent the district court from encroaching on Executive Branch authority.

The outcome could determine whether a criminal contempt inquiry remains alive and whether responsibility falls with former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, attorneys who advised her or another government official.