Judge Cullen Rejects Trump Suit Against Maryland Judges Over Deportation Pause

U.S. District Judge Thomas Cullen on Tuesday dismissed an unprecedented lawsuit the Trump administration had brought against all 15 federal judges of the District of Maryland. The Justice Department had asked the court to strike down a standing order on immigration cases, arguing the judges had exceeded their authority and were obstructing enforcement of federal immigration law. The contested directive, issued by Chief Judge George L. Russell III on May 21 and amended a week later, imposes an automatic two-business-day stay on deportations for detainees who file habeas corpus petitions. Justice Department lawyers said the blanket pause violated Supreme Court precedent and interfered with the president’s responsibility to remove undocumented migrants. Cullen, appointed to the bench by President Trump, concluded the executive branch lacked legal standing to sue a co-equal branch of government and that the judges enjoy absolute immunity for actions taken in their official capacity. He wrote that the administration should instead pursue traditional appellate avenues, calling the lawsuit “not ordinary” and contrary to “long-standing constitutional tradition.” The ruling leaves Russell’s deportation pause intact while the administration considers other ways to contest it, marking the latest clash between the White House and the federal judiciary over immigration policy.