Trump Administration Lawsuit Over Immigration Case Management Rejected
A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a rare lawsuit filed by the Trump administration against every sitting federal judge in Maryland. The lawsuit challenged a standing judicial order that temporarily delays deportation proceedings to allow review of each case.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Cullen, appointed by former President Trump and brought in from Virginia due to judicial conflicts in Maryland, ruled that suing the judiciary directly was not a lawful way for the executive branch to contest the court’s procedures.
Dispute Over Two-Day Deportation Delay Rule
The lawsuit stemmed from a May 21 order issued by Chief Judge George Russell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The order, updated one week later, instructed judges to automatically pause deportations for two business days in immigration cases where removal was imminent.
The Department of Justice argued that the order functioned as a blanket injunction and exceeded judicial authority by halting executive action without case-by-case analysis.
However, Judge Cullen rejected the administration’s legal approach, writing, “A lawsuit by the executive branch of government against the judicial branch for the exercise of judicial power is not ordinary.”
Judge: Lawsuit Improper, Judges Immune
Cullen’s opinion stated that the executive branch lacked proper standing and that judges are protected from such lawsuits. He did not weigh in on whether the Maryland court had the authority to issue the stay order but noted the administration must find another legal avenue to challenge it.
The judge also criticized the administration’s rhetoric toward the judiciary, referencing previous statements made against judges who opposed executive policies. “This concerted effort by the Executive to smear and impugn individual judges… is both unprecedented and unfortunate,” Cullen wrote in a footnote.
Context: Broader Tensions Over Immigration Policy
The Maryland court’s standing order came amid a broader push by the Trump administration to expedite deportations and limit judicial review. One such case involved a Salvadoran man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose wrongful deportation drew national attention and took place within the jurisdiction impacted by the order.
The decision marks another chapter in the ongoing conflict between the executive branch and the courts over immigration enforcement powers.
Related Coverage
- Courts + Policing – https://idahonews.co/idaho-news-3/
- National News – https://idahonews.co/national-news/
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