Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration to Return Deported Migrant

A U.S. District Judge has ordered the Trump administration to return a deported migrant to the United States, citing a breach of a settlement agreement.

U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher, appointed by President Trump, ruled that the administration violated a settlement agreement with a group of young asylum seekers when it deported a 20-year-old man, known as ‘Cristian,’ to El Salvador. Cristian was part of a group of migrants who entered the U.S. as unaccompanied children and later filed asylum claims. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had agreed not to deport any members of this group until their asylum claims were fully adjudicated.

Judge Gallagher’s ruling emphasized that the government’s action constituted a ‘breach of contract.’ She ordered the Trump administration to request Cristian’s release from El Salvador and his return to the U.S. to await the adjudication of his asylum application. This ruling comes amid other legal challenges to Trump’s deportation policies under the Alien Enemies Act.

The Trump administration argued that Cristian was eligible for removal due to a prior cocaine possession conviction, claiming this removed him from the protected class. However, Judge Gallagher rejected this argument, maintaining that the settlement agreement’s terms were clear and must be upheld. She also issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the deportation of another class member, an 18-year-old referred to as ‘Javier,’ who was at risk of imminent deportation.

This case highlights ongoing tensions and legal battles over immigration policies during the Trump administration, with federal judges playing a crucial role in interpreting and enforcing agreements related to asylum seekers and deportation practices.