A Washington federal judge halted the deportation of a mother and daughter yesterday — but threatened to hold Attorney General Jeff Sessions in contempt of court after removal proceedings began amid their appeal, the American Civil Liberties Union said.

The woman and her daughter were part of a group of immigrants who had fled "extreme sexual and gang violence" in Central America, according to the ACLU. The rights group and the Centre for Gender & Refugee Studies filed a lawsuit on their behalf. ACLU said the judge blocked the deportation while the case was pending.