{"id":2602416,"date":"2026-05-13T19:50:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T23:50:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-grills-doj-over-trumps-third-country-deportation-policy\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T19:52:46","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T23:52:46","slug":"appeals-court-grills-doj-over-trumps-third-country-deportation-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-grills-doj-over-trumps-third-country-deportation-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Appeals court grills DOJ over Trump&#8217;s &#8216;third country&#8217; deportation policy"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fappeals-court-grills-doj-over-trumps-third-country-deportation-policy%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2602416&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit pressed a Department of Justice lawyer on the Trump administration\u2019s policy of deporting immigrants without permanent status to \u201cthird countries\u201d when they can\u2019t be sent to their home countries. The judges focused on what protections those destination nations truly provide-especially assurances against torture or harm-and whether courts can scrutinize those guarantees.<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ argued that creating and assessing diplomatic assurances is a core executive-branch responsibility and that courts should not second-guess the government\u2019s credibility judgments. The panel also referenced the Supreme Court\u2019s prior emergency-docket decisions that allowed the policy to proceed while litigation continued.<\/p>\n<p>The dispute has repeatedly been blocked by U.S. district Judge Brian Murphy, including a February ruling that said the policy was neither acceptable nor legal; however, the appeals court halted that decision pending review. The 1st Circuit panel did not indicate when it would rule, and further appeals are possible either to the full 1st Circuit or the Supreme Court.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>A federal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/appeals-courts\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1537\">appeals court<\/a> grilled the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"339\">Trump administration<\/a> on Wednesday over its policy of deporting immigrants without <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/aclu-negotiating-with-biden-administration-to-give-deported-illegal-immigrants-permanent-status-compensation-and-social-services\/\" title=\"ACLU Negotiating With Biden Administration To Give Deported ... ..., \u2018Compensation and Social Services\u2019\">permanent legal status<\/a> to countries other than their country of origin, a policy the Supreme Court has twice allowed while litigation proceeds.<\/p>\n<p>A three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit questioned DOJ lawyer Sarah Welch over their concerns with the process of deporting <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/illegal-immigrants\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1972\">illegal immigrants<\/a> to countries other than their own, and specifically asked about what assurances the federal government has received from those countries not to harm the deportees it receives. Third-country deportations are typically sought by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-to-nominate-texas-sheriff-to-lead-ice\/\" title=\"Biden to Nominate Texas Sheriff to Lead ICE\">federal immigration officers<\/a> when they are unable to deport an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dhs-releases-restraining-order-against-kilmar-abrego-garcia-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"DHS releases restraining order against ... - Washington Examiner\">illegal immigrant back<\/a> to his or her country of origin, either due to an immigration court\u2019s order or for some other diplomatic reason. The case heard by the 1st Circuit started with a group of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cbp-nations-largest-police-agency-quietly-helping-ice-inside-us\/\" title=\"CBP, nation&#039;s largest police agency, quietly helping ICE inside US\">immigrants lacking permanent legal status<\/a> the administration planned to deport to South Sudan.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4566893\/dhs-lawyer-blames-biden-judge-illegal-immigrant-release-controversy\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DHS lawyer focuses blame on Biden judge after illegal immigrant release controversy<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4565745\/trump-ice-david-venturella-acting-director\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump picks longtime ICE official David Venturella as agency\u2019s acting director<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4565541\/judge-kilmar-abrego-garcia-liberia-deportation\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Judge keeps block on Trump administration effort to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>The judges grilled the Justice Department lawyer on the administration\u2019s reliance on diplomatic assurances to address key human rights and torture concerns related to where the illegal immigrants are being sent, asking what is in the third countries\u2019 assurances and whether those assurances could be challenged. <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Welch explained the agreements struck between the U.S. government and third countries over deportations represent a core executive branch function, and that the federal government determines whether a diplomatic assurance against torture or prosecution is credible on its own, adding that courts would not be able to second-guess that determination. Two of the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >judges expressed sharp concern<\/a> over that stance.<\/p>\n<p>Welch also leaned heavily in her argument on the Supreme Court twice allowing the third-country deportation policy to go forward via its emergency docket in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe district court\u2019s preliminary injunction interfered with executing the valid and unchallenged removal orders of illegal aliens who were particularly difficult to remove and intruded on areas that the Constitution and Congress have consigned to the executive branch,\u201d Welch said. \u201cThat\u2019s why the Supreme Court has had to intervene twice so far in this case to correct the district court\u2019s overreach, and while it\u2019s a pleasure to be before the court again, not much is new.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy, a Biden appointee, blocked Trump\u2019s third-country deportation policy in February for a third time, ruling it was \u201cnot fine, nor is it legal,\u201d even after the Supreme Court had twice allowed the policy to continue in the interim via its emergency docket.<\/p>\n<p>The Supreme Court <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3451537\/supreme-court-trump-immigration-allowed-deport-third-countries\/\">previously lifted<\/a> Murphy\u2019s preliminary injunction blocking the third-country deportation policy in June 2025, issuing a 6-3 unsigned order that did not elaborate on the rationale behind the majority\u2019s decision. Shortly after the Supreme Court lifted the block, Murphy still tried to enforce another order that built off the one the justices lifted \u2014 this one blocking the deportation of eight criminal immigrants lacking permanent legal status to\u00a0South Sudan. The high court\u00a0quickly <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3462911\/supreme-court-backs-trump-bid-to-deport-criminals-to-south-sudan\/\">rebuked him<\/a> in a 7-2 unsigned order.<\/p>\n<p>Murphy\u2019s February ruling was a final ruling on the matter, which superseded the preliminary injunction that was lifted by the Supreme Court, but the ruling was <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4493188\/appeals-court-trump-win-third-country-deportation-policy\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4493188\/appeals-court-trump-win-third-country-deportation-policy\/\">halted<\/a> by the 1st Circuit panel in March.<\/p>\n<p>The three-judge panel that heard arguments in the case Wednesday included U.S. Circuit Judges Jeffrey Howard, an appointee of former President George W. Bush; Seth Aframe, an appointee of former President Joe Biden; and Lara Montecalvo, also a Biden appointee. Howard and Aframe granted the request to halt Murphy\u2019s February ruling pending appeal, while Montecalvo said she would have denied it.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4493188\/appeals-court-trump-win-third-country-deportation-policy\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4493188\">APPEALS COURT HANDS TRUMP WIN ON THIRD-COUNTRY DEPORTATION POLICY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The panel overall appeared more skeptical of the Justice Department\u2019s arguments in upholding the third county deportation policy. The judges did not offer a timeline for when they plan to rule. Regardless of the ruling, the losing side can appeal next to either the full bench of the 1st Circuit or the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n<p>Trump\u2019s third country deportations have been one of several immigration policies that have made headlines, including in the most infamous deportation case of the second Trump administration with Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The Trump administration has said it wants to send Abrego Garcia to Liberia, but a federal judge in Maryland has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4565541\/judge-kilmar-abrego-garcia-liberia-deportation\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4565541\/judge-kilmar-abrego-garcia-liberia-deportation\/\">stalled the process<\/a> and claimed officials have made \u201cfalse assertions\u201d about her prior rulings to an appeals court.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Federal appeals court questions Trump\u2019s third-country deportations policy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2602417,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26019679335607.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[10123,7076,70100,69735,70028],"class_list":["post-2602416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-courts","tag-doj","tag-immigration-policy-2","tag-trump-administration-2","tag-us-politics-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26019679335607.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2602416"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602416\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2602420,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602416\/revisions\/2602420"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2602417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2602416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2602416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2602416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}