Trump Administration Suspends DOJ Lawyer After Mistaken Deportation of Maryland Man

DOJ Lawyer Suspended for Failing to "Zealously Advocate" in Deportation Case

The Trump administration has placed a Justice Department (DOJ) attorney on indefinite paid leave after he failed to aggressively defend the government's position in the controversial deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man living in Maryland who was mistakenly expelled from the U.S. last month.

Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that Erez Reuveni, the DOJ lawyer who represented the government in court, was suspended for not "zealously advocating" on behalf of the United States.

"At my direction, every Department of Justice attorney is required to zealously advocate on behalf of the United States," Bondi told the New York Times. "Any attorney who fails to abide by this direction will face consequences."

Judge Orders Garcia’s Return by Monday

The controversy stems from a March 15 deportation in which Garcia—a Maryland resident with protections against removal—was abruptly sent to El Salvador, where he is now imprisoned.

On Friday, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ruled that Garcia’s deportation violated the Administrative Procedures Act because it occurred without proper judicial proceedings. She ordered the Trump administration to arrange for his return by Monday at midnight.

However, the Justice Department filed an emergency appeal on Saturday, arguing that the U.S. government has no authority to force El Salvador to release Garcia.

"If there was ever a case for an emergency stay pending appeal, this would be it," the government wrote in its filing. "The court’s injunction commands that Defendants accomplish, somehow, Abrego Garcia’s return to the United States in give or take one business day."

Garcia’s Legal Status and MS-13 Allegations

Garcia, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2011, was granted protection from deportation in 2019 after an immigration judge determined he could face danger from gangs in El Salvador. Despite this, the Trump administration insists Garcia is an MS-13 member, a claim his lawyers vehemently deny.

"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," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said this week.

Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura—a U.S. citizen—has been fighting for his return, arguing that he had a valid work permit and was a sheet metal apprentice with no gang ties.

Legal and Political Fallout

The case has sparked bipartisan concern, with Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) calling Garcia’s deportation a grave injustice.

"Kilmar Abrego Garcia did not have his day in court," Ivey said on The Will Cain Show.

Meanwhile, conservative legal scholars like John Yoo have urged the administration to negotiate Garcia’s return, acknowledging the deportation was an error.

What Happens Next?

• The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will decide whether to block Judge Xinis’ order or allow the government more time to appeal.
• If the ruling stands, the U.S. must find a way to repatriate Garcia from Salvadoran custody—a diplomatically complex task.
• The case could set a legal precedent for how immigration enforcement handles individuals with protected status.

Conclusion

The suspension of the DOJ lawyer underscores the Trump administration’s hardline stance on immigration enforcement, even in cases of government error. As legal battles continue, Garcia’s fate remains uncertain—caught between judicial orders, diplomatic hurdles, and political tensions.