A US judge has labeled the detention of a Maryland man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, as “wholly lawless.” Consequently, the Trump administration has placed a federal justice department attorney, Erez Reuveni, on leave for allegedly not defending the administration robustly after it unintentionally deported Garcia to El Salvador.
The action against Reuveni followed a ruling by US District Judge Paula Xinis, who demanded Garcia’s return to Maryland despite the administration’s stance against returning individuals from foreign nations. Xinis argued there was no legal basis for Garcia’s arrest, detention, or deportation and no evidence that he was wanted for any crimes in El Salvador, where he was wrongly deported. The administration is appealing the decision, with a ruling expected by the Monday deadline set by the judge.
Reuveni struggled to provide answers in court about the circumstances surrounding Garcia’s deportation. He acknowledged a lack of evidence justifying Garcia’s detention, which led to his placement on administrative leave by Deputy US Attorney General Todd Blanche. Reuveni’s supervisor, August Flentje, also received the same treatment.
Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant with legal residency and a work permit in the US, has complied with all immigration directives without any criminal charges or convictions. He was arrested on 12 March and accused of MS-13 gang ties, which he denies. Garcia is being held in a notorious El Salvador prison known as Cecot, which the judge labeled as highly dangerous.
Trump’s administration, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, has defended its increased immigration enforcement and has vowed to continue deportations, aligning with their stance of removing individuals from the country. Judge Xinis’s ruling documents the administration’s enforcement actions’ disregard for due process, triggering criticism from civil rights groups, especially concerning on-going asylum cases among those deported. Another judge in Washington DC is reviewing a separate case regarding alleged violations of a court order against deporting individuals to El Salvador amid ongoing legal proceedings.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/06/justice-department-prosecutor-leave-trump-administration-deportation
