Justice Department Lawyer Suspended After Questioning Deportation Decision

A senior Justice Department immigration lawyer was placed on indefinite leave on Saturday. This action followed his questioning of the Trump administration's decision to deport a Maryland man to El Salvador. The lawyer, Erez Reuveni, had represented the government in court just one day prior to his suspension.

The acting deputy director of the department’s immigration litigation division, Reuveni, was suspended by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. The suspension was due to his failure to "follow a directive from your superiors," according to a letter obtained by The New York Times.

Reuveni, who had been lauded as a "top-notched" prosecutor by his superiors in a recent email announcing his promotion, is not the first career official to face repercussions. He joins a growing list of individuals who have been suspended, demoted, transferred, or fired for refusing to comply with directives from President Trump’s appointees that they considered improper or unethical.

Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a statement regarding the situation. She stated that every Department of Justice attorney is required to advocate zealously on behalf of the United States. She further added that any attorney who fails to adhere to this direction will face consequences.