Name: Supreme Court Blocks Judge’s Order to Return Man Deported to El Salvador
Uploaded: 2025-04-08T04:36:41.000Z
Description: The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a lower court order requiring the federal government to return an illegal immigrant deported to El Salvador, granting the Trump administration a brief reprieve as it appeals the case.

Sam Wang is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Sam covers politics on Capitol Hill, and U.S.-China relations. 

Sam Wang

NTD Plus

News

News with integrity, from the U.S. and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

Citizens Honor Police for Their Service and Sacrifice

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

Trump ‘Projecting American Influence and Leadership’ on Iran Issue in Beijing: China Expert

Chris Bob is a reporter for NTD and a host of "Profiles of Service." He is also a small business owner. Chris graduated from Union College with a concentration in politics and religion in Russia and the former Soviet Union.

Chris Bob

Senate Panel Advances Crypto Regulation Bill

Jason Blair is a national correspondent for NTD News based in California. 

Jason Blair

Lawmakers Weigh ‘Sanctuary’ Polices After Woman’s Death in Virginia

Christina Corona is a California-based reporter for NTD News. She primarily covers California news, politics, and entertainment.  

Christina Corona

Bonta Announces Major Fentanyl Bust in California

Arian Pasdar is an international correspondent for NTD News based in South America. His reporting focuses on immigration and key events in Latin America.

Arian Pasdar

CENTCOM Commander Admiral Cooper Praises Trump's Military Actions

David Lam is a national correspondent based in California and a part-time anchor for "NTD Tonight." Before joining NTD he was a financial analyst.

David Lam

Lawyers in OpenAI Trial Give Closing Arguments

Eva Fu is a New York-based writer for The Epoch Times focusing on U.S. politics, U.S.-China relations, religious freedom, and human rights. Contact Eva at eva.fu@epochtimes.com

Eva Fu

Jack Bradley is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Jack previously anchored "NTD Newsroom" and worked as an assistant producer for the show. 

Jack Bradley

China News

Organ Harvesting in China

Congressional Hearing Spotlights Forced Organ Harvesting in China

Dave Martin is NTD's Senior Sports Reporter and sports analyst. He also hosts "Data Hub" segments during NTD's special election coverage, "The Nation Decides."

Dave Martin

Report: Giants WR Nabers Had 2nd Procedure on Knee

Xavier Becerra Leads New California Governor Poll

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 15)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 14)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 13)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 12)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 11)

Don Ma is an anchor and senior business correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Don is the anchor and producer of NTD's "Business Matters," which airs weekdays at 4:30 pm ET.

Don Ma

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 10)

Arleen Richards is NTD's legal correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers all major legal stories. Arleen holds a Doctor of Law (J.D.).


Arleen Richards

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 9)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 8)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 7)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 6)

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

China Sends Warships to Pacific Drill as Tensions With Japan Rise

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

2 US Embassy Personnel Assigned to Cartel Case Killed in Car Accident

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

US News

Gunman Kills 8 Children, Including 7 of His Own, in Louisiana Mass Shooting

Flora Hua is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers China news, U.S.-China relations, and human rights issues. Flora primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus."  

Flora Hua

Trump: Seized Iranian Ship May Have ‘A Gift From China’

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Wildfires Across Georgia and Florida Have Destroyed Nearly 50 Homes and Are Forcing Evacuations

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

US Warns of China Hacks via Routers, Smart Devices

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

2 Americans Among Suspected Communist Rebels Killed in Clashes With Troops, Philippine Officials Say

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

World News

Middle East

Iran

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

Health News

3 Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean: WHO

The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a lower court order requiring the federal government to return an illegal immigrant deported to El Salvador, granting the Trump administration a brief reprieve as it appeals the case.

Chief Justice John Roberts entered the stay on April 7, pausing a Maryland district judge’s ruling that ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to bring Salvadoran national Kilmar Abrego-Garcia back to the United States by 11:59 p.m. April 7.

The stay, which will remain in effect pending further action by Roberts or the full court, also requires Abrego-Garcia’s legal team to file a response by 5 p.m. on April 8.

The order was issued in response to an emergency <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24A949/354843/20250407103341248_Kristi%20Noem%20application.pdf">application</a> the Trump administration filed with the Supreme Court earlier on Monday. The application requested the high court to block U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis’ April 4 <a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69777799/21/abrego-garcia-v-noem/">order</a> requiring the government to bring back Abrego-Garcia. The judge found that the government had violated a 2019 immigration ruling that barred his removal to El Salvador due to credible threats from the rival Barrio 18 gang. The 2019 ruling was made after Abrego-Garcia was arrested in Maryland and placed in deportation proceedings.

Abrego-Garcia entered the United States illegally in about 2011.

Despite the 2019 ruling, Abrego-Garcia was arrested on March 12 by Homeland Security Investigations, a division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Officials cited what they described as his “prominent role” in the MS-13 gang, which the Trump administration had recently designated a foreign terrorist organization. He was placed on a deportation flight three days later, on March 15.

According to ICE official Robert Cerna II, Abrego-Garcia had not been on the original manifest for the flight but was listed as an alternate. As other individuals were removed from the flight, Abrego-Garcia's name was moved up, and he was added to the final passenger list. The manifest, Cerna added, failed to indicate that Abrego-Garcia had legal protection from removal to El Salvador.

"Through administrative error, Abrego-Garcia was removed from the United States to El Salvador,” Cerna said in the filing. “This was an oversight, and the removal was carried out in good faith based on the existence of a final order of removal and Abrego-Garcia’s purported membership in MS-13."

Abrego-Garcia’s lawyers have argued that there is no credible evidence linking him to MS-13.

In an April 6 <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815.31.0.pdf">opinion</a> denying the government's motion to stay her April 4 order, Xinis appeared to agree.

“Defendants have claimed—without any evidence—that Abrego Garcia is a member of MS-13 and then housed him among the chief rival gang, Barrio 18,” she wrote.

Xinis also rejected the administration’s claim that the court had overstepped its authority, finding that Abrego-Garcia’s deportation was illegal and that the government could not now avoid responsibility by claiming that it lacked the power to correct the mistake.

“Having confessed grievous error, the Defendants now argue that this Court lacks the power to hear this case, and they lack the power to order Abrego Garcia’s return,” she wrote. “To avoid clear irreparable harm, and because equity and justice compels it, the Court grants the narrowest, daresay only, relief warranted: to order that Defendants return Abrego Garcia to the United States.”

On April 5, the Justice Department asked the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to pause Xinis’s order, filing an emergency motion for a stay pending appeal and an immediate administrative stay. The court <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24A949/354884/20250407124131372_24A949%20Abrego%20Garcia%20Letter%20FINAL.pdf">denied</a> both requests on April 7, prompting the Trump administration to turn to the Supreme Court in an effort to block the order before the midnight deadline.

In its filing, the Trump administration warned of sweeping consequences if the lower court’s ruling were allowed to stand.

“The United States cannot guarantee success in sensitive international negotiations in advance, least of all when a court imposes an absurdly compressed, mandatory deadline,” the government wrote.

In their April 7 <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24A949/354927/20250407153131040_2025.04.07%20Respondents%20Opp%20to%20App%20to%20Vacate.pdf">filing</a> in response to the Trump administration’s request for a stay, Abrego-Garcia’s lawyers argued the government admitted it unlawfully deported their client and retains control over his detention through its arrangement with El Salvador.

They said the court’s order simply requires U.S. officials to correct their own error—not compel foreign action. They also dismissed the government’s public safety claims, noting Abrego-Garcia has no criminal record and faces serious risk of harm if left in Salvadoran custody.

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/trump-admin-asks-supreme-court-to-halt-judges-ruling-ordering-return-of-deportee-5838038">The Epoch Times</a></em>

Latest

Videos

Politics

Breaking News

04_Top Stories

Latest Clips

Management

Immigration &amp; Border Security

Supreme Court

Tom Ozimek is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times. He has a broad background in journalism, deposit insurance, marketing and communications, and adult education.

Tom Ozimek

02_Second Lead

Executive Branch

Courts

Donald Trump

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.