Federal Judge Halts Discovery Process Amid Trump Administration Dispute

Washington, D.C. — A federal judge has paused the discovery process in a case involving forced removals until April 30. This decision follows an agreement between attorneys for Abrego Garcia and the Trump administration.

Judge Paula Xinis expressed frustration with the administration for its inadequate responses to requests for information from Garcia’s legal team. She criticized the government for a “willful and bad faith refusal to comply with discovery obligations” and ordered the administration to provide specific answers to Garcia’s attorney’s questions.

The Trump administration filed a motion shortly after the judge’s order to put a seven-day hold on the ruling concerning the discovery process, but the filing was sealed, leaving the reasoning unclear. Garcia’s attorneys initially opposed the motion but their filing was also sealed.

Garcia’s lawyers stated they aim to return their client, a Salvadoran native and former Maryland resident, to the United States. They stressed their commitment, despite the current limitations in discussing the case due to the sealing order. “We will provide updates as soon as they become available to the public,” they said in a statement.