Trump Administration Sues Maryland Judges Over Deportation Order

The Trump administration took the unusual step of filing a lawsuit against all 15 federal judges in Maryland. This action stems from a court order that blocked the immediate deportation of migrants who are challenging their removal from the United States.

The order, issued in May by Chief Judge George L. Russell III, prevents the administration from deporting immigrants who file paperwork with the Maryland district court seeking a review of their detention. Removals are blocked until 4 p.m. on the second business day after the habeas corpus petition is filed. The administration argues that this automatic pause on deportations violates a Supreme Court ruling and infringes upon the president's authority to enforce immigration laws.

This lawsuit is considered rare, especially for the federal government to sue an entire federal bench within a state. It intensifies the conflict between the administration and the federal judiciary over President Trump's immigration policies. The action highlights the administration's growing frustration with federal judges who have overturned executive branch actions.

The Justice Department has expressed increasing frustration with rulings that have blocked the president's agenda, accusing judges of improperly impeding the president's powers. The administration views these rulings as undermining the president's executive authority.

The lawsuit is part of a larger pattern of tension between the Trump administration and the judiciary. The president has criticized unfavorable judicial rulings, and in one instance, called for the impeachment of a federal judge.

The lawsuit names several judges, including U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis. Judge Xinis had previously ruled the administration's deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador as illegal. The government acknowledged that Abrego Garcia was deported by mistake.

The order issued by Judge Russell aims to maintain existing conditions, ensure immigrant petitioners can participate in court proceedings and access attorneys, and give the government adequate time to present its defense. The Trump administration, however, argues that the judge cannot issue a standing order that automatically prevents the government from removing individuals who file habeas petitions, calling the order "lawless" and "judicial overreach." The administration has requested that the Maryland judges recuse themselves from the case and that a federal judge from another state preside.