The Department of Homeland Security filed a lawsuit Tuesday against all 15 active federal district court judges in Maryland, marking an unprecedented legal challenge in American judicial history.
The sweeping legal action represents the most aggressive confrontation between the executive branch and federal judiciary in recent memory.
The lawsuit targets a standing order that automatically halts deportations for 48 hours when detained immigrants file habeas corpus petitions.
Chief Judge George L. Russell III issued the contested order in May, establishing a blanket policy that applies to all immigration cases within the district.
The Trump administration argues the blanket policy violates constitutional principles and Supreme Court precedent that requires judges to make case-by-case determinations rather than issuing sweeping orders.
Administration officials contend that such broad judicial mandates exceed the proper scope of judicial authority.
DHS filed the complaint in Maryland’s U.S. District Court, characterizing the judicial policy as an overreach of authority that unlawfully restrains executive immigration powers.
The filing represents a direct challenge to the independence of the federal judiciary and its role in immigration enforcement.
The contested order mandates that court clerks immediately issue injunctions to preserve the status quo for detained immigrants who file habeas petitions.
The administration contends this practice defies established legal standards and creates an automatic barrier to immigration enforcement operations.
Officials argue the Maryland court’s policy directly undermines President Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda and deportation operations across the region.
The administration views the order as an impediment to carrying out lawful immigration enforcement actions authorized by federal statute.
The administration requested that all named judges recuse themselves from the case, proposing either an outside judge or transfer to another federal district to handle the matter.
This request reflects concerns about potential conflicts of interest given that the judges are defendants in their own courtroom.
Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a statement condemning the Maryland order as part of what she described as a broader pattern of judicial resistance to Trump administration policies. Bondi’s statement signals the administration’s intention to challenge similar judicial orders across the country.
Bondi warned that such judicial actions “undermines the democratic process and cannot stand,” signaling the administration’s commitment to challenging similar orders nationwide.
Legal scholars note that no prior instance exists of the Justice Department suing an entire federal court, making this case a historic first in American jurisprudence.
Constitutional law experts describe the action as entering uncharted legal territory with potentially far-reaching implications for federal court operations.
The Maryland court’s order emerged in response to a surge in habeas corpus petitions filed during non-business hours, which created scheduling complications for the court system.
Court administrators reported difficulties managing the increased caseload and ensuring proper legal representation for detained individuals, according to Rift News reporting.
Court officials stated the policy aims to ensure clear information about detainees’ legal status before conducting hearings on their cases.
The 48-hour delay allows court personnel time to gather necessary documentation and coordinate with immigration authorities regarding specific detention circumstances.
The Maryland lawsuit represents part of a broader legal strategy, as the Trump administration simultaneously appealed to the Supreme Court regarding a Massachusetts judge’s injunction blocking deportations to South Sudan.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer characterized the Massachusetts ruling as a “lawless act of defiance” in court filings submitted to the nation’s highest court.
The post Trump Admin Takes Unprecedented Legal Action Against Every Maryland Federal Judge Over Immigration Orders appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Jordyn M.
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