Judge Paula Xinis ruled that the Trump administration is not acting in good faith regarding the expedited return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador, citing intentional noncompliance with discovery requests. The judge sharply criticized the Justice Department’s use of vague privilege claims to obstruct the process, ordering them to provide specific legal and factual justifications. This follows complaints from Abrego Garcia’s attorneys about insufficient responses and inadequate document production from the government. The Department of Homeland Security’s top lawyer was deposed, and the administration submitted a sealed daily update for in-camera review by the judge.
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Juan Francisco-Mendez, a Guatemalan man with no criminal history, was arrested by ICE agents in New Bedford, Massachusetts, after an agent smashed his car window with a sledgehammer. The arrest, which occurred without prior notice to local authorities, has sparked outrage from Mayor Jon Mitchell and Governor Maura Healey, who are demanding answers from ICE. While ICE claims Francisco-Mendez resisted arrest, his wife disputes this, stating it was a case of mistaken identity. A judge has ruled that Francisco-Mendez cannot be moved without 72 hours’ notice, and the government has agreed he is entitled to a bail hearing.
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President Trump and Salvadoran President Bukele openly mocked U.S. court orders in the Oval Office, refusing to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a wrongfully deported Maryland man. This defiance follows a Supreme Court ruling mandating Abrego Garcia’s repatriation, which the administration has ignored despite admitting the deportation was an “administrative error.” The meeting solidified Trump’s disregard for judicial authority, suggesting a potential expansion of this practice to include deportations of U.S. citizens deemed “criminals” to El Salvador. This blatant disregard for legal processes raises serious concerns about the erosion of American democratic principles.
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Federal Judge Paula Xinis sharply criticized the Trump administration for its handling of Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation, accusing them of ignoring court orders and obstructing justice. The administration defiantly claimed that even if returned, Abrego Garcia would be immediately re-deported due to alleged MS-13 ties, despite accusations of misinterpreting court orders to “facilitate” his return. Judge Xinis rejected the administration’s arguments, ordering two weeks of intensive discovery and emphasizing the urgency of Abrego Garcia’s situation, highlighting the daily harm to him and his family. The judge’s rebuke follows the Supreme Court’s upholding of her previous order mandating the administration facilitate Abrego Garcia’s release from a Salvadoran prison. The administration’s actions have been met with outrage from Abrego Garcia’s wife and widespread protest.
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Federal Judge Paula Xinis sharply criticized the Trump administration for its inaction in returning Kilmar Ábrego García, a Salvadoran national wrongly deported to El Salvador, giving officials two weeks to provide evidence of their efforts. The judge threatened contempt of court charges if the administration fails to demonstrate good faith, demanding sworn testimony from four Homeland Security officials. While the Supreme Court ordered the administration to facilitate Mr. Ábrego García’s return, the government’s actions, including conflicting statements about his potential re-entry, raise concerns about compliance. The case highlights a broader conflict between the judicial and executive branches regarding deportation policy and the Trump administration’s handling of the situation.
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Following the Trump administration’s refusal to comply with court orders to repatriate Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to a dangerous El Salvadoran prison, Judge Paula Xinis ordered sworn testimony from relevant officials. This action follows the administration’s repeated defiance of a Supreme Court order to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return, despite claims of lacking authority and assertions from El Salvador’s president that repatriation is impossible. The judge rejected these arguments, emphasizing that the Supreme Court’s decision is binding. Abrego Garcia’s lawyers contend that the U.S. government possesses the means to secure his release and that contempt proceedings may be necessary.
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The Justice Department appealed a court order mandating the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national mistakenly deported to El Salvador despite a prior ruling granting him protection from deportation. The government argues the order to compel action from a foreign sovereign is unconstitutional, and it suspended the attorney who admitted the deportation was an error. The appeals court requested a response from Abrego Garcia’s lawyers. The White House maintains Abrego Garcia is an MS-13 gang member, a claim his lawyers deny. Abrego Garcia’s deportation has raised concerns about the handling of non-citizens granted permission to remain in the U.S.
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A federal judge ordered the US government to return Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia to the United States by April 7th after he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador due to an administrative error. The judge ruled the deportation illegal, citing a prior grant of withholding of removal and the lack of legal basis for his apprehension and removal. The government admitted the error but initially claimed inability to retrieve Abrego Garcia from Salvadoran custody, a claim the judge questioned given US contractual control over the prison where he is held. Despite a government appeal, the judge’s order highlights the contentious legal battle surrounding recent US deportations to El Salvador.
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A federal judge sharply questioned a Trump administration lawyer regarding the administration’s alleged disregard of an oral court order halting migrant deportations to El Salvador. The lawyer, claiming only written orders are binding, argued the administration complied with the subsequent written order, despite acknowledging non-compliance with the prior oral directive. The judge expressed astonishment at the administration’s invocation of national security concerns to justify withholding information, even from the court. Consequently, the judge ordered sworn declarations detailing the events and reasons for the secrecy.
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Brown University medical professor Rasha Alawieh was deported to Lebanon despite possessing a valid US work visa and a judge’s order preventing her removal. The government cited “sympathetic photos and videos” related to Hezbollah and attendance at a Hezbollah leader’s funeral as justification. This deportation, alongside the deportation of over 250 immigrants to El Salvador, occurred despite judicial orders halting the removals, demonstrating a pattern of defiance towards court rulings. Alawieh’s case underscores escalating immigration policies targeting universities, particularly following pro-Palestinian protests.
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John Q. Hosedrinker