Court Showdown: Trump Team Accused of ‘Sustained Defiance’ in Immigration Case

In a dramatic legal twist, lawyers for Kilmar Abrego García are asking a federal judge to sanction former Trump administration officials for allegedly defying court orders in a high-profile deportation case.

Abrego García, a Salvadoran immigrant, was deported in March despite a standing court order blocking his removal. Now back in the U.S. after being held in a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, his attorneys are accusing the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security of ignoring multiple legal directives and obstructing the truth.

The legal team is asking Judge Paula Xinis to hold officials in civil contempt, a serious legal move that could result in financial penalties or other court-enforced consequences. They’re also requesting access to documents the government refused to turn over, and they want to bring key officials in for questioning under oath.

According to court filings, the administration knowingly deported García even though a federal court had specifically ordered them not to. His lawyers say the government later offered vague excuses, claiming they were “powerless” to stop the deportation. The same officials then continued to pursue criminal charges against García in a separate human smuggling case.

The Biden administration returned García to the U.S. after pressure mounted, including from the Supreme Court. However, his legal team insists the damage is done and that officials should still be held accountable for what they call a “vocal and sustained” disregard for the law.

While the government argues the matter should now be closed since García has been brought back, legal experts say defying court orders could still have major consequences. Judge Xinis is expected to decide soon whether to impose fines or other penalties—or possibly appoint an outside party to review the withheld documents.

The case is unfolding alongside García’s ongoing criminal trial in Tennessee, where he has pleaded not guilty to human smuggling charges. His attorneys maintain that he’s being unfairly targeted and that the wrongful deportation was an attempt to sidestep the legal process.

This case is being closely watched for what it could mean for how federal courts hold top officials accountable when they defy the rule of law—especially in politically charged immigration cases.