Judge Holds US in Contempt Over Teen’s Deportation

A federal judge appointed by President Donald Trump held the administration in contempt on September 25 for deporting a young asylum seeker to El Salvador in violation of three court orders.
US District Judge Stephanie Gallagher ordered the government to bring the 19-year-old, identified in court documents only as E.L.A., back to the United States and to return his personal property and documents. Court records show he was removed twice despite being protected by a class-action settlement for asylum seekers who entered the country as unaccompanied minors.
The case, JOP v. Department of Homeland Security, produced a second contempt finding in the same litigation. Gallagher had previously held the government in contempt in August over similar removals. Government lawyers attributed the errors to communication failures.
Both sides must provide a status update on the young man’s return by October 2. Gallagher also barred the government from executing any further removal orders against him until his asylum case is resolved or the settlement expires.
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