A federal judge appointed by President Donald Trump has held his administration in contempt for deporting a 19-year-old asylum seeker to El Salvador a second time, in violation of three court orders, Politico senior legal affairs reporter Kyle Cheney reported Friday.
In Friday’s order, U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher found that the government violated orders she issued in November 2024, April 2025 and July 2026 when it removed the young man, identified in court records as E.L.A. She ordered officials to bring him back “and refrain from executing any final removal order against him.” That bar lasts until immigration authorities make a final decision on his asylum application, or until the settlement protecting him expires.
Gallagher also ordered the government to hand back belongings taken from him when he was removed. Before any future attempt to deport him, officials must give at least five business days’ notice along with their legal justification. The parties must report by Oct. 2 on whether he wants to return.
E.L.A. was first deported in March and brought back Aug. 7. Then, on Sept. 1, he was flown out again while he was waiting for a psychological evaluation in his asylum case. Justice Department lawyers blamed communication errors.
The Maryland case protects young asylum seekers who arrived as unaccompanied minors. Gallagher held the government in contempt in July. Her April 2025 order came after a Venezuelan class member was sent to El Salvador’s CECOT prison.
The ruling came a day after the White House turned away reporters for hours despite an order from another Trump appointee restoring their access. In June, the full D.C. Circuit also agreed to reconsider whether a criminal contempt inquiry into the administration’s 2025 deportation flights can go forward.
JUST IN: A federal judge (Trump-appointed Stephanie Gallagher) has held the Trump administration in contempt for deporting a man to El Salvador in violation of three court orders. She’s ordering the government to return him. https://t.co/4AMi7SdUzc pic.twitter.com/S0bsoBeEy4 — Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) September 25, 2026
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