The Trump administration has placed a Justice Department lawyer on leave for not aggressively advocating its position in a case involving a Salvadoran man mistakenly deported last month. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that all DOJ attorneys must zealously advocate on behalf of the United States, and consequences will be faced by those who fail to do so. The lawyer in question, Erez Reuveni, admitted that the deportation of Maryland father Kilmar Abrego Garcia was a mistake. A judge ruled that Garcia must be returned to the U.S. by Monday, leading to an emergency appeal by the Trump administration to stay the decision.
The government argued that it cannot force El Salvador to return Garcia, claiming he is a member of MS-13. The administration defended the deportation, citing Garcia’s ties to the gang. However, Garcia’s wife, who is a U.S. citizen, has been advocating for his return, stating that he was working as a sheet metal apprentice in Maryland and denying any gang affiliations.
The immigration judge five years ago deemed Garcia could not be deported to El Salvador over safety concerns. Despite his asylum request being denied, he was protected from deportation, and ICE did not appeal the decision. Garcia’s lawyers argue that he had authorization to work in the U.S. and deny any gang affiliations, with little evidence provided by the government to support their claims. As Garcia is currently in custody in El Salvador, compliance with the court’s order remains uncertain.
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