Trump officials have acknowledged the deportation was an ‘administrative error.’
A federal judge told Trump lawyers they must expeditiously comply with her requests in the case of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, the Maryland resident wrongfully deported to El Salvador last month, as she weighs next steps in the politically charged case.
U.S. Judge Paula Xinis told Trump administration lawyers Tuesday that they will have two weeks to comply with discovery requests in the case of Abrego Garcia, the Maryland resident deported to El Salvador last month in what Trump officials have acknowledged was an «administrative error», demanding the government spend time detailing with what, if any, steps it is taking to facilitate his release and return to the U.S.
«Cancel vacations, cancel other appointments», Xinis told lawyers at the Tuesday evening hearing.
She also said she would issue an order in writing directing the government to show her how they have complied with her order to facilitate the release of Abrego-Garcia from El Salvador.
After the two-week period, she will weigh the discovery submissions and determine whether or not the government acted in good faith — or whether there is evidence that could preempt potential contempt proceedings.
Xinis stressed at the outset of the hearing that, in her view, the Supreme Court had «already spoken» in ordering the U.S. to facilitate the release of Abrego Garcia and resume his immigration proceedings as if he were never removed.
«We’re going to do it in a targeted way, but we’re not going to spend a lot of time doing it», Xinis said of the discovery process, which she stressed will move fast.
Lawyers for the Justice Department said in response that they objected to her view of the Supreme Court’s ruling, and the expedited discovery — an objection she dryly quipped in response she would note for the record.
«Just so everyone knows what my current thinking is, Abrego Garcia already won his injunctive proceedings», Xinis told Trump lawyers at the outset of the hearing.
