Judge skeptical of DOJ suit against Maryland judges deportation pause

A federal judge in Baltimore expressed clear skepticism on Wednesday about the Trump administration’s bid to sue all 15 Maryland federal judges over an order that temporarily halts deportations for migrants who are challenging their removals. The hearing before U.S. District Judge Thomas Cullen did not produce a ruling, but it highlighted questions about the extraordinary nature of the case and the balance of powers between branches of government in immigration enforcement.

The core dispute centers on a standing order issued by Chief Maryland District Judge George L. Russell III. The order automatically pauses deportations for two business days after a habeas petition is filed, enabling detained migrants to seek review and to meet with counsel before any removal proceeds. The Justice Department argues that the automatic pause interferes with the president’s authority to enforce immigration laws, while the Maryland judges contend the suit against an entire bench is unprecedented and constitutionally problematic.

The government filed the lawsuit in June, seeking relief from what it calls a legal roadblock to immigration enforcement. But attorneys for the Maryland judges...