All articles tagged with #federal courts
A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled that the Trump administration's policy allowing immigration authorities to deport migrants to third countries without notice or a chance to object is unlawful, violating federal immigration law and due process; the ruling pauses for 15 days to allow an appeal.
Since December, Operation Metro Surge has generated over 1,000 habeas corpus petitions in Minnesota, with federal judges frequently ordering detainees released or given bond hearings. A decentralized, volunteer group of mostly non-immigration lawyers has mobilized to represent immigrants facing detention, even as many are transferred out of state and the administration faces mounting court scrutiny over mass detention policies.
Judges warn that the surge in immigration enforcement under President Trump is overwhelming federal courts, driving up caseloads and backlogs as detention measures and expedited removals expand, raising concerns about the system’s capacity to handle the surge.
Federal judges are undermining the Trump administration’s mass detention drive by ordering releases for detainees who post bond, citing long-standing legal interpretations that require release; the rising volume of cases is straining courts and complicating immigration enforcement.
In Brooklyn, Mark Anderson was arrested after posing as an FBI agent at the Metropolitan Detention Center in a bid to secure the release of Luigi Mangione, the murder suspect held there. He arrived with a pizza cutter and a barbecue fork, claimed a judge-signed order, and tossed documents at guards before being detained. Mangione’s high-profile case has drawn broad support and a large defense fund, while the MDC’s concerns about safety and conditions continue to draw scrutiny.
A Minnesota federal judge ordered ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons to appear in person to explain why he should not be held in contempt for repeatedly failing to comply with court orders related to detentions during the Minneapolis occupation, underscoring growing judicial pressure on ICE to follow federal rulings.
Minnesota’s chief federal judge has ordered the acting head of ICE to personally appear in court Friday and warned that failure to do so could result in contempt, citing repeated defiance of court orders amid ICE enforcement in Minnesota.
Lindsey Halligan, Trump’s interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, stepped down from the Justice Department after a judge sharply criticized her rhetoric and a prior ruling found her appointment invalid, prompting EDVA to seek an interim replacement as her 120-day term ended; Attorney General Pam Bondi called the departure a significant loss and Halligan said the court vacancy would be filled through other means.
Two federal judges ordered replacements for Lindsey Halligan as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and warned that lawyers who still refer to her by that title could face disciplinary action, signaling a rare, high-profile dispute over leadership of a key federal prosecutor’s office.
Three federal judges—one appointed by Trump—allowed construction on offshore wind projects off New England, New York, and Virginia to resume, delivering a setback to Trump’s bid to halt offshore wind. After Congress cut incentives and the Interior Department issued stop-work orders, the courts found the government failed to show a compelling national-security justification, boosting developers’ momentum but leaving the ultimate fate of the projects uncertain and potentially influencing investor sentiment amid ongoing legal battles.
A year into Trump’s presidency, federal judges at the district, appellate, and Supreme Court levels have sharply criticized and sometimes blocked his expansive use of executive power, including deportations, foreign-prison detentions, and DEI-linked grant cuts. The rulings have labeled actions illegal, discriminatory, or beyond presidential authority, prompting warnings about the future of the rule of law, even as the Supreme Court has at times backed the administration, underscoring a deep, ongoing clash over constitutional limits.
President Trump announced that SNAP food benefits will only be paid after the government shutdown ends, contradicting recent federal court rulings that require at least partial payments during shutdowns. The move affects 42 million Americans relying on SNAP, marking the first time shutdowns have disrupted this critical program. Despite increased spending and enrollment during Trump's administration and the COVID pandemic, recent years have seen a decline in SNAP expenditures and recipients, with the Biden administration updating the program to better reflect actual costs.
Two US federal judges have ruled that the Trump administration must continue paying SNAP food benefits during the government shutdown, using emergency funds, despite the USDA's initial plans to halt distribution due to lack of funding. The courts emphasized that Congress intended for SNAP benefits to be funded even during funding lapses, and the administration was directed to report on whether it will pay full or reduced benefits. The decision is a critical lifeline for over 40 million Americans relying on food assistance amid ongoing political stalemate.
The federal court system will run out of funds and begin furloughs starting Monday due to the ongoing government shutdown, leading to limited operations and delays in cases, as courts rely on exhausted funds and only essential staff will work without pay.
The U.S. judiciary faces a funding lapse starting October 20, leading to limited court operations, with essential functions continuing without pay and non-essential staff furloughed, amid ongoing government shutdown efforts.