Trump Faces Daily Legal Updates as Judge Demands Action on ‘Wholly Illegal’ Deportation Standoff

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to provide daily updates on efforts to return Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador. This directive comes despite objections from a Department of Justice attorney, who argued that the administration could not immediately comply with a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the administration must “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return but stopped short of mandating his immediate repatriation from El Salvador’s notorious Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) prison.

Judge Paula Xinis of the District of Maryland interrogated DOJ lawyer Drew Ensign about Abrego Garcia’s current status and what actions the administration had taken to repatriate him. Ensign admitted he was unable to provide that information, citing the administration’s ongoing review process.

Judge Xinis expressed frustration over the lack of action from the Trump administration, emphasizing that the government had failed to comply with the court’s previous order. She stated, “The record as it stands is, despite this court’s directive … your clients have done nothing to facilitate the return of Mr. Abrego Garcia.” A hearing is set for next week to address the matter further.

Abrego Garcia was deported on March 15 due to an administrative error, despite having protections against removal to El Salvador established by a judge in 2019. His attorney, Simon Y. Sandoval-Moshenberg, expressed hope for the daily updates, suggesting that the administration was not forthcoming with information and indicating a lack of seriousness in addressing the case.

As tensions mount, other government officials have weighed in. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller dismissed Judge Xinis’s authority to enforce Abrego Garcia’s return, claiming that the Supreme Court had clarified that a district court lacks the power to influence foreign affairs decisions.

While the Trump administration has labeled Abrego Garcia as linked to the MS-13 gang, he has no criminal record in the U.S. or El Salvador. Attorney General Pam Bondi noted that the government lawyer who initially represented the administration was placed on leave for not adequately defending its stance.

Prior to this latest development, the DOJ requested an extension until Wednesday to respond, which Judge Xinis rejected. She underscored that the administration had a responsibility to act on the court’s directives promptly.