Judge Slams Trump Administration Over Deportation Efforts, Cites “Chaos”

‍ ‌Updated May 27, ​2025
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A federal judge has sharply criticized the Trump ​administration’s handling of a case involving ⁤the government efforts to deport migrants to South Sudan and other nations. Judge Brian Murphy suggested the administration was “manufacturing” chaos in the case.

murphy, based in Boston, ​issued⁣ a scathing order ‌stating he had provided ‍the administration with “remarkable adaptability” ​and attempted to collaborate on numerous occasions. He wrote in the 17-page ‍order that the administration seemed ⁣to be using a “lack of clarity as⁤ a‌ means of evasion.”

The​ case revolves around ‍immigration advocates’ attempts to prevent the administration from⁣ deporting migrants ‌to countries other than their own‌ without allowing them a fair chance to ‍contest their removal. The immigration ⁢enforcement policies⁤ of the Trump administration ⁣have come under scrutiny.

Last week,Murphy held a hearing⁢ regarding the deportation of eight immigrants to‌ South ⁤Sudan. He noted ​the men ⁢were⁤ unable​ to argue that deportation coudl endanger⁤ them. Instead of ordering their return to the U.S. for hearings, Murphy offered the⁢ government the option‌ to hold hearings in​ Djibouti, where the deportation plane had stopped, ⁢provided ​the men remained in U.S.‍ custody. The administration⁣ then claimed Murphy was ⁢forcing them to hold “risky criminals in a sensitive location.”

Murphy countered ⁣that processing⁣ the‌ claims ⁤abroad was the government’s “own suggestion.” ⁢He added, “It turns out that having immigration proceedings on another‌ continent is harder and more logistically cumbersome⁢ than Defendants anticipated.”

The government has maintained that the men had prior opportunities to express ‍fears of deportation and ⁢that ⁤their‍ home ‌countries—Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, ‍Vietnam, and‌ South Sudan—would not accept them. The‍ administration has also emphasized the men’s criminal⁤ histories, portraying them as national security threats. The immigration statistics reflect ‌the focus on criminal history.

The trump administration has⁢ increasingly‍ relied on third ⁣countries‌ to accept immigrants ‍who cannot be deported to their home countries. Some nations refuse to take back their citizens, while others accept some ‌but not all. Concerns about torture‍ or harm also prevent deportations to certain countries.

Historically, this‍ has led to the release of individuals the government wants⁣ to‍ deport. Though, the Trump administration ⁤has leaned on ‌countries like El Salvador, ⁢Costa Rica, and Panama in the Western Hemisphere. El Salvador’s acceptance of ‌deportees into a ‌notorious prison has sparked controversy.

Murphy noted the eight men were initially told‍ on May 19 they would be ​deported ⁤to South Africa,then later that day to South Sudan. He highlighted the U.S. government’s “stark warnings regarding South sudan.”

The judge⁢ said the men had less​ than⁤ 16 ‌hours between notification and airport ⁣transport,‍ “most⁢ of which were ⁣non-waking hours,” with “limited, if any” access to family or legal counsel. “Given the totality of the circumstances,‍ it is hard to take seriously ​the idea that Defendants intended ‍these individuals to have any real possibility ⁤to ‌make a valid claim,” Murphy wrote.

What’s next

The legal battle continues, with immigration advocates expected to challenge the administration’s reliance on ⁤third-country agreements and the expedited deportation processes.