A U.S. District Judge appointed by President Biden has now reportedly blocked President Donald Trump’s plan for the rapid deportation of migrants to third countries.
Judge Brian Murphy issued a preliminary injunction requiring that migrants be given a “meaningful opportunity” to contest their deportation before being sent to any country other than their own.
The ruling addresses concerns that migrants, particularly those at risk of persecution or torture, must have the chance to demonstrate their fears in U.S. court.
Murphy’s decision represents a significant setback for the Trump administration’s immigration policies, which had resumed under his recent return to office. The administration plans to appeal this ruling.
In February, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) directed immigration officials to review cases of migrants protected from deportation, potentially leading to their relocation to third countries.
This directive could have impacted hundreds or thousands of individuals currently in the U.S.
Murphy noted that the deportation process could result in wrongful executions of deportations without adequate opportunity for affected migrants to argue their cases.
He emphasized that the administration’s revised guidelines fail to protect basic rights. Rights First attorney Anwen Hughes, representing the plaintiffs, stated that the court’s protections are essential to prevent individuals from being sent to third countries where they might face the same dangers they fled.
The ruling is part of a broader pattern, as Trump’s immigration agenda has frequently encountered judicial challenges, with courts often issuing nationwide injunctions against border security policies.
The Supreme Court is set to review related issues in mid-May, heightening the stakes for future immigration enforcement actions.
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