A federal judge in Maryland has ordered the Trump administration to facilitate the return of a 20-year-old Venezuelan asylum seeker deported to El Salvador.
The court found that his removal violated a 2019 settlement protecting young migrants with pending asylum claims, requiring his return to the United States.
The asylum seeker, identified as “Cristian,” was deported despite a binding agreement that barred removal until the claims were fully adjudicated.
US District Judge Stephanie Gallagher, who issued the ruling, also prohibited the deportation of others covered by the same settlement finalized in November 2024.
This case highlights a growing judicial pushback against the administration’s immigration actions.
Gallagher emphasized that the deportation was a “breach of contract,” ordering the government to work with Salvadoran authorities to bring Cristian back for proper legal processing.