DOJ attorney placed on leave after expressing frustration in court with government over mistakenly deported man

The Justice Department has placed on administrative leave a government immigration lawyer who in court this week expressed frustration at not being able to answer key questions from a judge over a mistaken deportation case, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The Justice Department has placed on administrative leave a government immigration lawyer who in court this week expressed frustration at not being able to answer key questions from a judge over a mistaken deportation case, according to two people familiar with the matter. Erez Reuveni argued the government’s case in the deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, who the government has said was sent to his native El Salvador last month due to a clerical error, despite a court order that he not be deported. A Maryland judge has ordered that Abrego Garcia be returned by Monday night, but the Trump administration on Saturday filed an emergency stay to block the order. The administration said earlier this week in a court filing that it could not return him because he’s now in Salvadoran custody. Reuveni said in court of the government’s position: “Our only arguments are jurisdictional … he should not have been sent to El Salvador.” Asked why the US couldn’t simply ask for his return, Reuveni said, “The first thing I did when I got this case on my desk is ask my clients the same question,” adding that he did not get a direct answer. Attorney General Pam Bondi took issue with how Reuveni handled the case in court.