Trump administration suspends DOJ lawyer for failing to advocate for wrongfully deported Maryland man
A father torn from his son, a courtroom admission of error, and a political firestorm: how one wrongful deportation is testing the limits of justice, loyalty, and power in Trump’s America.
The U.S. Department of Justice has suspended attorney Erez Reuveni with pay after he admitted in court that the government wrongfully deported Kilmar Abrego García, a Maryland resident, to El Salvador. Reuveni’s remarks, seen as insufficiently zealous in defending the Trump administration’s stance, led to his removal from the case. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized that DOJ lawyers must fully support the administration's immigration policies in court.
Deported Maryland man held as Trump admin defies court order
Abrego García, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2011 and had been granted protection from deportation in 2019 due to gang threats in El Salvador, was detained in March while with his young son and deported without a hearing. He is now imprisoned in a maximum-security facility in El Salvador, where human rights abuses have been reported. His wife and legal team are demanding his return, denying government claims that he is affiliated with gangs.
The Trump administration argues that the judiciary cannot compel the executive branch to negotiate with a foreign government for Abrego García’s return. However, District Judge Paula Xinis ordered his return by April 7, citing violations of the Administrative Procedure Act. The administration has filed an emergency appeal, insisting that it cannot force El Salvador to take action, and claiming that Abrego García is a member of the MS-13 gang — a claim his lawyers deny.
DOJ lawyer suspended amid wrongful deportation and immigration policy controversy
Reuveni’s suspension follows a pattern of disciplinary action against DOJ attorneys who express dissent or fail to uphold the administration’s hardline immigration stance. A veteran with nearly 15 years at the DOJ and recently promoted, Reuveni has been removed from all further filings in the case. While Judge Xinis praised his honesty, AG Bondi criticized him for not advocating forcefully enough for the government’s position.
This incident has sparked national concern over wrongful deportations and the limits of judicial authority over executive decisions. Jennifer Vasquez, Abrego García’s wife, has spoken publicly about the emotional toll on their family and the urgency of correcting the error. The administration continues to maintain it lacks legal authority to reverse the deportation, deepening the legal and ethical debate around immigrant rights and government accountability.