Federal Judge Accuses Trump Administration of Criminal Contempt After Sudden Deportation to South Sudan

 

In a dramatic courtroom development, a federal judge has accused the Trump administration of defying a direct court order by deporting a group of South Sudanese migrants early yesterday morning a move that may amount to criminal contempt of court.

Judge Marcus Henley of the U.S. District Court issued a strong rebuke during an emergency hearing late Tuesday, stating that the removal of the migrants occurred “in complete violation of a standing judicial injunction”.

“These actions suggest a blatant disregard for the rule of law,” the judge said. “The deportation took place while the court was still reviewing the legal merits of the individuals’ asylum claims.”

According to legal filings, the migrants including families and children had been granted temporary relief from deportation pending further review. However, immigration officials reportedly placed them on a flight bound for Juba, South Sudan, just hours before sunrise.

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Civil rights attorneys representing the group said they were “shocked” to discover their clients had been removed despite the court’s intervention.

“This is a dangerous precedent,” said Attorney Lila Grant from the National Immigrant Justice Center. “No administration is above the law not even in the final stages of a presidency.”

The Trump-era Department of Homeland Security has not issued a public comment, but internal communications obtained by reporters suggest that senior officials authorized the deportation under a narrow interpretation of federal authority.

Judge Henley has now ordered a full investigation, warning that individuals within the Trump administration could face contempt charges and possibly criminal prosecution for willfully disobeying a federal court.

The Biden administration, which took office shortly after the incident, has not confirmed whether it will pursue disciplinary action or reversal of the deportations.

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As legal pressure mounts, human rights groups are calling for immediate accountability and the safe return of the affected migrants. The case may reignite broader debates about executive power, immigration enforcement, and the limits of presidential authority.