Federal Judge Holds DHS in Contempt for Deporting Asylum Seeker to El Salvador, Orders Trump Admin to Bring Him Back

A federal judge has held the Department of Homeland Security in contempt for deporting a 19-year-old asylum seeker, identified as E.L.A., to El Salvador in violation of three court orders. U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher ordered the Trump Administration to return E.L.A. to the U.S. and process his asylum claim, noting he was wrongfully deported twice. The case is linked to a 2019 class-action lawsuit settlement protecting unaccompanied minors seeking asylum.

• A federal judge held the Department of Homeland Security in contempt for deporting a young asylum seeker to El Salvador.
• The asylum seeker, E.L.A., was deported twice in violation of three court orders.
• U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher ordered the Trump Administration to bring E.L.A. back to the U.S.
• The order requires the government to process his asylum case before any removal.
• The case stems from a 2019 lawsuit settlement protecting unaccompanied minors seeking asylum.
• At least 107 individuals protected by the settlement were removed before their asylum claims were decided.