On Tuesday, the Trump administration filed a lawsuit against all 15 federal judges in Maryland, challenging a court order that temporarily blocks the deportation of immigrants who have requested judicial review of their detention. The lawsuit, filed in Baltimore, targets an order issued in May by Chief Judge George L. Russell III of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
Under the order, deportation is paused until 4 p.m. on the second business day after a habeas corpus petition is submitted. This pause is meant to allow detained individuals to access legal counsel and participate in legal proceedings, and allow the government to present a defense.
The Trump administration argues that this automatic injunction undermines the president’s executive authority and violates a recent Supreme Court ruling. The Justice Department stated in the lawsuit that the injunction is issued “whether or not the alien needs or seeks emergency relief, whether or not the court has jurisdiction over the alien’s claims, and no matter how frivolous the alien’s claims may be.”
Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the administration’s position, stating: “President Trump’s executive authority has been undermined since the first hours of his presidency by an endless barrage of injunctions designed to halt his agenda.”
Among the judges named in the suit is Judge Paula Xinis, who previously ruled Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation to El Salvador illegal. Attorneys for Abrego Garcia are now seeking contempt fines against the administration, claiming it failed to comply with court orders requiring his return to the U.S.
Chief Judge Russell stated in an amended order that the court had seen an influx of late-hour habeas petitions, which led to rushed and challenging hearings. The purpose of the injunction, he said, was to preserve the status quo, protect the court’s jurisdiction, and ensure due process for immigrants facing removal.
The administration is asking the Maryland judges to recuse themselves from the case and has requested that a judge from another state be appointed to hear the matter.
Additional Reading
Trump administration sues all of Maryland’s federal judges over deportation order, NPR (June 26, 2025)
Trump administration sues Maryland federal judges over order blocking immediate removal of immigrants, PBS (June 25, 2025)
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