Judge Paula Xinis orders quick discovery after Trump officials fail to comply with Supreme Court ruling on deported man

A US federal judge has sharply criticised the Trump administration for failing to take action to return Kilmar Ábrego García, a man wrongly deported to El Salvador, as per a recent Supreme Court ruling. The court had ordered that the US government “facilitate” his return after it was revealed that his deportation was the result of an administrative error.

At a federal district court hearing in Maryland, Judge Paula Xinis expressed her dissatisfaction with the administration’s response, stating that nothing had been done to comply with the court’s directive. She dismissed the argument made by Trump officials, including lawyer Drew Ensign, that their hands were tied by legal and constitutional limitations. Xinis insisted that the word “facilitate” required more than passive acknowledgement—it demanded that the government take concrete steps to secure Ábrego García’s release from a notorious Salvadoran prison.

Despite a controversial comment made by Trump during a press conference with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, where the two jokingly discussed the deportee’s fate, Xinis made it clear that such remarks were not an adequate response. “Your characterization is not bound in fact,” she said, demanding that the administration provide concrete details of their actions.

Ábrego García’s legal team has been critical of the government’s handling of the case, accusing officials of bad faith. His lawyer, Rina Gandhi, highlighted the administration’s failure to rectify the wrongdoings, noting the profound impact of Ábrego García’s deportation on his family. She stressed that although the case was far from over, the hearing had secured an important victory in terms of transparency and accountability.

The judge ordered the administration to submit an account of their efforts within two weeks and said she would allow Ábrego García’s legal team to depose key officials, including top figures from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security. Xinis gave a strict timeline for the government to respond, stating, “Cancel vacation… Cancel appointments.”

The court’s intervention comes amid growing frustration over the Trump administration’s handling of the case, as it attempts to downplay its responsibility. However, the judge’s firm stance indicates that further delays or misinterpretations will not be tolerated, ensuring that the government will have to answer for its inaction.