Fact Check: Trump administration sues all 15 Maryland judges over deportation order
What We Know
On June 25, 2025, the Trump administration filed a lawsuit against all 15 federal judges in Maryland. This legal action was initiated in response to a court order that blocked the immediate deportation of migrants who had filed petitions for review of their detention in the Maryland district court. The order, signed by Chief Judge George L. Russell III, mandated that deportations be paused until the second business day after a habeas corpus petition was filed, allowing time for judicial review (AP News, New York Times).
The lawsuit reflects the administration's ongoing conflict with the federal judiciary, particularly regarding immigration enforcement. Attorney General Pamela Bondi criticized the judiciary's actions as undermining President Trump's executive authority, asserting that the pattern of judicial overreach was detrimental to the democratic process (CNN, USA Today).
Analysis
The lawsuit against the Maryland judges is unprecedented and raises significant questions about the balance of power between the executive branch and the judiciary. Legal experts have noted that it is unusual for a losing party in a legal dispute to sue judges directly rather than appeal their decisions (AP News, New York Times). Laurie Levenson, a law professor, described the lawsuit as an escalation of the Justice Department's efforts to challenge federal judges (AP News).
Critics, including Democratic Representative Glenn Ivey, have condemned the lawsuit as an attack on judicial independence, arguing that it seeks to delegitimize the courts (USA Today). James Sample, a constitutional law professor, pointed out that the judges did not seek to be in this position and that their order was a reasonable response to the administration's actions, which had previously obstructed detainees' access to judicial review (AP News, New York Times).
The administration's justification for the lawsuit centers on claims that the judges' order violates Supreme Court rulings and impedes the president's authority to enforce immigration laws. However, the context of the lawsuit suggests a broader strategy to challenge judicial decisions that the administration perceives as obstructive (CNN, USA Today).
Conclusion
The claim that the Trump administration sued all 15 Maryland judges over a deportation order is True. The evidence from multiple credible news sources confirms that the lawsuit was filed in response to a judicial order that the administration found obstructive to its immigration enforcement efforts. This legal action exemplifies the administration's contentious relationship with the judiciary and raises critical concerns about the implications for judicial independence and the rule of law.
