A US judge has ordered the return of three families deported during the Trump administration, in a ruling that highlights the ongoing legal battles over immigration enforcement. The families were allegedly removed without proper due process, raising concerns about the erosion of legal protections for non-citizens.
The White House has sent a clear message that even long-term residents or those facing life-threatening conditions at home may be detained and expelled without meaningful legal defence, according to critics. The Trump administration has undermined due process by intimidating law firms, defying judges, and attempting to cut funding for children's attorneys, all aimed at limiting immigrants' access to legal representation.
A circuit judge remarked that 'Nazis got better treatment' compared with Venezuelans sent to El Salvador's maximum-security prison without court hearings. The administration also ended asylum rights at the US-Mexico border, paused green card processing for certain refugees, and sent migrants to Guantánamo Bay, where they reported abuse by American officers.
In a memorandum on 22 March, President Trump accused attorneys of 'unscrupulous behaviour' and asked the attorney general to pursue sanctions against those involved in 'frivolous' immigration litigation. The American Immigration Lawyers Association called the memo 'chilling' but stated it would not be intimidated.
Unlike criminal defendants, non-citizens have no right to counsel in immigration court, making legal representation crucial. Many law firms that previously provided pro bono services have scaled back their efforts during the current crackdown, with one prominent firm, Paul, Weiss, reportedly caving to Trump's demands.
