Judge Criticizes Trump Administration Lawyers Over Tardiness in MS-13 Deportation Case

Judge Criticizes Trump Administration Lawyers Over Tardiness in MS-13 Deportation Case

A federal judge in Maryland expressed strong disapproval on Tuesday towards the Trump administration’s legal team for their last-minute request for an extension regarding the case of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia. Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant and alleged member of the MS-13 gang, was deported to El Salvador due to what officials acknowledged was an administrative error.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis rejected the Justice Department’s request for a 30-day extension. She pointed out that the Trump administration’s lawyers submitted their request on the very day their response was due, emphasizing a lack of effort to demonstrate good cause for their late filing.

“They vaguely complain, in two sentences, about expending ‘significant resources’ on expedited discovery,” Judge Xinis remarked. “However, these are burdens of their own making.”

Judge Notes Ongoing Delays and Compliance Issues

During the hearing, Judge Xinis highlighted the numerous occasions when the administration had postponed submitting necessary information in the case. She referred to a Supreme Court ruling this year which mandated the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S.

“This court has conducted no fewer than five hearings in this case,” Xinis stated, underscoring that at no point had the defendants indicated a need for additional time to respond. The defendants, she added, are well aware of the causes of action and impending deadlines.

“To claim now that more time is required to fulfill legal obligations rings hollow,” Xinis concluded, firmly denying the extension request.

New Court Filings and Ongoing Legal Battles

Hours after the judge’s decision, the Trump administration submitted a motion to dismiss the case, citing a supposed lack of jurisdiction. A response from Judge Xinis regarding this motion remains pending.

This legal maneuver comes amidst a prolonged court dispute concerning the status of Abrego Garcia, who currently remains in El Salvador. In April, Judge Xinis mandated that the Trump administration adhere to an expedited discovery schedule to evaluate their compliance with the directive to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S.

Since that time, attorneys representing both the government and Abrego Garcia have engaged in heated exchanges in court about the interpretation of “facilitate” in the context of his return. Xinis characterized this process as akin to