&w=3840&q=100)
Trump admin's lawsuit against Maryland federal judges critised in court
AP Baltimore
A judge on Wednesday questioned why it was necessary for the Trump administration to sue Maryland's entire federal bench over an order that paused the immediate deportation of migrants challenging their removals.
US District Judge Thomas Cullen didn't issue a ruling following a hearing in federal court in Baltimore, but he expressed skepticism about the administration's extraordinary legal manoeuvre, which attorneys for the Maryland judges called completely unprecedented.
Cullen serves in the Western District of Virginia, but he was tapped to oversee the Baltimore case because all of Maryland's 15 federal judges are named as defendants, a highly unusual circumstance that reflects the Republican administration's aggressive response to courts that slow or stop its policies.
At issue in the lawsuit is an order signed by Chief Maryland District Judge George L. Russell III that prevents the administration from immediately deporting any immigrants seeking review of their detention in a Maryland federal court. The order blocks their removal until 4 pm on the second business day after their habeas corpus petition is filed.
The Justice Department, which filed the lawsuit in June, says the automatic pause impedes President Donald Trump's authority to enforce immigration laws.
But attorneys for the Maryland judges argue that the suit was intended to limit the power of the judiciary to review certain immigration proceedings while the administration pursues a mass deportation agenda.
The executive branch seeks to bring suit in the name of the United States against a co-equal branch of government, said Paul Clement, a prominent conservative lawyer who served as Republican President George W. Bush's solicitor general. There really is no precursor for this suit.
Clement listed several other avenues the administration could have taken to challenge the order, such as filing an appeal in an individual habeas case.
Cullen also asked the government's lawyers whether they had considered that alternative, which he said could have been more expeditious than suing all the judges. He also questioned what would happen if the administration accelerated its current approach and sued a federal appellate bench, or even the Supreme Court.
I think you probably picked up on the fact that I have some skepticism, Cullen told Justice Department attorney Elizabeth Themins Hedges when she stood to present the Trump administration's case.
Hedges denied that the case would open the floodgates to similar lawsuits. She said the government is simply seeking relief from a legal roadblock preventing effective immigration enforcement.
The United States is a plaintiff here because the United States is being harmed, she said.
Cullen, who was nominated to the federal bench by Trump in 2020, said he would issue a ruling by Labor Day on whether to dismiss the lawsuit. If allowed to proceed, he could also grant the government's request for a preliminary injunction that would block the Maryland federal bench from following the conditions of the chief judge's order.
The automatic pause in deportation proceedings sought to maintain existing conditions and the potential jurisdiction of the court, ensure immigrant petitioners are able to participate in court proceedings and access attorneys and give the government fulsome opportunity to brief and present arguments in its defense, according to the order.
Russell also said the court had received an influx of habeas petitions after hours that resulted in hurried and frustrating hearings in that obtaining clear and concrete information about the location and status of the petitioners is elusive. Habeas petitions allow people to challenge their detention by the government.
The administration accused Maryland judges of prioritizing a regular schedule, saying in court documents that a sense of frustration and a desire for greater convenience do not give Defendants license to flout the law.
Among the judges named in the lawsuit is Paula Xinis, who found the administration illegally deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador in March - a case that quickly became a flashpoint in Trump's immigration crackdown. Abrego Garcia was held in a notorious Salvadoran megaprison, where he claims to have been beaten and tortured.
The administration later brought Abrego Garcia back to the US and charged him with human smuggling in Tennessee. His attorneys characterised the charge as an attempt to justify his erroneous deportation. Xinis recently prohibited the administration from taking Abrego Garcia into immediate immigration custody if he's released from jail pending trial.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
10 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Putin's Jet!': Alaska Becomes the Center of the Universe for One Weekend
ANCHORAGE, Alaska—Nearly two decades ago, when the presidential nominee John McCain selected then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his Republican running mate, this Far North metropolis was swarmed with media, political consultants and other outsiders. It turns out that was merely a warm-up act. Anchorage now finds itself in a global spotlight, having hosted the much-anticipated summit between President Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. 'I thought we had sunk back into obscurity,' joked the veteran Alaska pollster Ivan Moore, referring to the end of the Palin frenzy. Instead, Trump-Putin mania has gripped Anchorage, with hotel rooms and car rentals sold out, and buzz about the historic moment sweeping through tourist destinations, including salmon-fishing spots and the Alaska Railroad depot, where visitors await the scenic ride to Denali National Park and Preserve, famed for its grizzlies and high peaks. Reactions have varied. Some are outraged Alaska would host Putin after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Others hope this marks a step toward peace. But most everyone agrees on one point. This summit—with the deadly war at stake—is perhaps the most notable event to happen in Alaska in modern memory. 'All eyes are on Anchorage,' declared a headline in the Anchorage Daily News, while Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy told a local news station that the event 'puts Alaska on the world map—where we should be.' 'This trip is very big,' said Mike Porcaro, a radio talk show host who said calls about the event flooded his conservative program. 'There have been other high-level meetings, but not of this magnitude.' 'Bucket list' On Friday morning, onlookers gathered on a pier, beneath the flight path to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, to see the plane carrying Putin, and Air Force One, land there. A website for the base, in the wooded outskirts, recommends that new arrivals enjoy a 'bucket list' of experiences including the Moose Run Golf Course and beluga whale watching. But the chance to see the rare joint landings of two world leaders topped that. 'Putin's jet!' local resident Cheryl Shroyer, 73, shouted from an overlook as a large plane believed to be carrying the Russian leader appeared first as a black dot against the snow-capped Alaska Range. The big jet grew larger, gliding over the Cook Inlet before disappearing as trees blocked the view of the base's airfield. At 10:17 a.m. local time, Shroyer shouted again: 'There it is, Air Force One!' as Trump's plane emerged from the clouds. (As it turned out, Putin's plane was another one, which came in after Trump.) Though Anchorage has nearly 300,000 people, it feels like a small town. Many locals drive pickup trucks, and the airport greets visitors with taxidermied grizzly, Kodiak and polar bears. Some Alaskans feel more kinship with Canada than the 'Outside,' local lingo for the Lower 48 U.S. states. Of course, Russia has long ties to Alaska. Once Russian territory, Alaska was sold to the U.S. in 1867 for $7.2 million. Palin, as McCain's running mate, drew late-show ridicule for reportedly saying, 'I can see Russia from my house.' (She actually said Russia is visible from the Alaskan island of Little Diomede island, which is about 2.5 miles from the Russian island of Big Diomede.) As hundreds of reporters and officials descended on Anchorage for the summit, local entrepreneurs seized on the surprise windfall. Some proprietors said it had been a challenging summer, with tourism hampered by a slowdown in foreign travel. David Liles, manager of the Ramada by Wyndham in downtown Anchorage, said occupancy jumped from 60%, with rooms running about $300 nightly, to fully booked, with rooms temporarily between $500 and $1,000. (Among those not getting hotels? Some Russian journalists who arrived as part of Putin's press pool Thursday night and slept on beds inside a sports stadium on the campus of the University of Alaska.) The Ramada price was nothing compared with what the owner of an Airbnb tried to charge: $7,000 a night after canceling a previous offer of $1,500. 'Some people are getting greedy ' Liles said. Autumn hues on the tundra on the Chugach peaks above Anchorage signal the approaching long winter. 'People who make money off tourists only have three months to do it in, so any publicity that brings extra people here is good for the economy,' said Kirill Gashenko, who rents out used cars. They were in hot demand. Cheers and jeers America's political divisions were on full display across Anchorage. 'We're really distraught that Putin is allowed on our soil, period,' said Janice Bunting, 65, watching for planes with her husband, Glenn, from lawn chairs beside a Ukrainian flag. Standing nearby, Jeff Henson, a 61-year-old Air Force veteran, disagreed. He said talking is the only way to resolve the conflict. 'The previous administration had three years,' said Henson, a Trump supporter accompanied by his husky mix, Leo. As the two presidents huddled, hundreds of Putin critics converged on a park near downtown Anchorage and unfurled a 132 foot by 65 foot Ukrainian flag—one of the largest in the world, organizers said. 'I can't think of a bigger F U to Trump and Putin,' organizer Erin Jackson-Hill said over a microphone to cheers. Minutes earlier, a lone man taunted the crowd with shouts of 'U.S.A.! U.S.A.!,' to which a demonstrator, Courtney Moore, shot back, 'Bootlicker!' A giant Ukrainian flag was unfurled at Delaney Park Strip in the heart of Anchorage. For her part, hotel clerk Amber Rookard just wanted the whole summit to go away. 'It just makes everybody uneasy,' said Rookard, who said three FBI agents came in and asked her if she had seen any 'unusual people.' Confused, she answered, 'I see a lot of unusual people.' Still, most locals seemed supportive. Soon after Anchorage was announced as the summit venue, Ivan Moore's Alaska Survey Research conducted a poll of 848 registered voters that found 59% said it was appropriate that Putin was invited to participate in the summit on U.S. soil—even if only 6% gave Putin a favorable rating. Unfortunately, there was little time for the two leaders to enjoy the outdoor adventures for which Alaska is revered. The incoming planes passed a line of fishermen at a creek known for its salmon. That might have caught the eye of Putin, who has been pictured fishing shirtless. At the Alaska Railroad depot, Steve Richmond, an Oregon resident visiting with his wife, suggested that Trump and Putin follow the group and see the park's famed wildlife. 'They should take advantage of being in this area,' Richmond, 74, said, as the train whistle blew nearby in preparation for departure. Write to Jim Carlton at
Hindustan Times
10 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Did Trump cave to Putin during Alaska Summit? Shocking report out as Zelensky, EU left scrambling
Did Trump cave to Putin during Alaska Summit? Shocking report out as Zelensky, EU left scrambling
Indian Express
10 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Brazil's former president Bolsonaro temporarily leaves house arrest for medical exams
Brazil's Former President Jair Bolsonaro temporarily left house arrest Saturday to undergo medical exams in Brasilia, after a judge authorized him to spend six to eight hours at a hospital. Doctors at DF Star hospital said Bolsonaro was admitted for evaluation of fever, cough, persistent gastroesophageal reflux and hiccups. Tests revealed residual signs of two recent pulmonary infections, as well as persistent esophagitis and gastritis. He was discharged later in the day and will continue treatment with medication. He has been hospitalized multiple times since being stabbed at a campaign event before the 2018 presidential election. His most recent surgery was in April, for a bowel obstruction. Bolsonaro is on trial at the Supreme Court over his alleged attempt to remain in power after losing the 2022 election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. A five-justice panel is expected to deliver verdicts and sentences on five counts against him between Sept. 2 and denies any wrongdoing. The far-right leader has been under house arrest since August. 5. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the case, said Bolsonaro violated precautionary measures by spreading content through his three lawmaker sons. A small group of fewer than 20 people gathered outside DF Star hospital Saturday, claiming Bolsonaro is a victim of political persecution. Some thanked US President Donald Trump, who has called the prosecution a 'witch hunt' and linked his decision to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports to Bolsonaro's legal troubles.
