A DOJ lawyer finds himself in hot water after his handling of a controversial deportation case involving a Maryland resident.
According to Fox News, the Trump administration has placed Justice Department attorney Erez Reuveni on indefinite paid leave for failing to "zealously advocate" the government's position in a case concerning the mistaken deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador.
The decision came after Reuveni admitted in court that Garcia's deportation was a mistake, contradicting the administration's stance. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized that all DOJ attorneys must vigorously represent the United States' interests or face consequences.
The case has sparked a legal battle between the administration and U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, who ordered Garcia's return to the United States by Monday at midnight. The government filed an emergency appeal on Saturday, arguing that the judge lacks authority to force El Salvador to return one of its citizens.
The administration acknowledged the deportation as an "administrative error" but maintains its defense by claiming Garcia has connections to MS-13. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced this position during a Tuesday briefing.
Attorney General Bondi made her expectations clear in a statement to the press:
At my direction, every Department of Justice attorney is required to zealously advocate on behalf of the United States. Any attorney who fails to abide by this direction will face consequences.
Garcia entered the United States illegally in 2011 and subsequently requested asylum. Although his asylum request was denied, an immigration judge ruled five years ago that he could not be deported to El Salvador due to concerns about gang violence. ICE did not appeal this decision.
The administration's recent emergency appeal argues that Garcia, as an alleged member of MS-13, has no legal right to be in the United States. However, Garcia's lawyers strongly deny any gang affiliations and point out that he possessed a valid Department of Homeland Security work permit.
Judge Xinis determined that Garcia's March 15 expulsion violated the Administrative Procedures Act since it occurred without proper judicial proceedings. The ruling has created a challenging situation for the government, as Garcia is currently held in an El Salvador prison.
Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, a U.S. citizen, has been actively campaigning for his return. Before his deportation, Garcia worked as a sheet metal apprentice in Maryland and was arrested in an IKEA parking lot on March 12 while his 5-year-old son was present.
The Trump administration's stance remains firm, as expressed by White House press secretary Leavitt:
This individual is an illegal criminal who broke our nation's immigration laws. He is a leader in the brutal MS-13 gang, and he is involved in human trafficking. And now MS-13 is a designated foreign terrorist organization. Foreign terrorists have no legal protections in the United States of America.
The government maintains that implementing Judge Xinis's order presents significant challenges since Garcia is now under El Salvador's custody.
The Trump administration placed DOJ lawyer Erez Reuveni on indefinite paid leave after he admitted to Garcia's mistaken deportation during a court hearing. The case has evolved into a complex legal battle involving multiple government agencies, with Judge Paula Xinis ordering Garcia's return by Monday midnight. As Garcia remains in El Salvador's custody, the administration faces mounting pressure to resolve the situation while maintaining its stance on his alleged MS-13 connections and defending its deportation policies.
