Federal Judge Condemns “Wholly Lawless” Deportation of Maryland Resident, Orders Trump Administration to Return Him from El Salvador

A federal judge has criticized the U.S. government’s decision to deport a Maryland resident to El Salvador, describing the action as “wholly lawless.” U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis issued a legal opinion on Sunday, explaining her order for the Trump administration to return Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia to the United States. Garcia, a Salvadoran national, was deported despite a previous order from an immigration judge that prohibited his removal. The administration has been given a deadline of 11:59 p.m. ET to comply with the order.

The case has drawn significant attention due to the potential implications for the Trump administration’s relationship with the judicial branch. The deportation of Garcia, who was mistakenly sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador, has become a focal point in discussions about the administration’s immigration policies. Judge Xinis highlighted that an immigration judge had explicitly barred Garcia’s deportation in 2019, citing the risk of persecution by local gangs in El Salvador.

In her opinion, Judge Xinis noted that the U.S. government lacked legal authority to arrest, detain, or deport Garcia. She emphasized that there was insufficient evidence to support allegations linking Garcia to the MS-13 street gang. The judge’s remarks underscore the legal and procedural concerns surrounding Garcia’s deportation, which occurred on one of three flights carrying deportees to El Salvador on March 15.

The situation has prompted a series of court rulings and reactions, as the deadline for Garcia’s return approaches. The case raises questions about the enforcement of immigration laws and the balance of power between the executive and judicial branches. As the deadline looms, the Trump administration’s response to the court order remains a point of interest for legal experts and observers.