Judge Orders Return of Wrongly Deported Venezuelan Asylum Seeker

A federal judge in Maryland, Stephanie Gallagher, refused to lift her order requiring the Trump administration to facilitate the return of a Venezuelan man, identified as Daniel Lozano-Camargo, who was deported to El Salvador in violation of a legal settlement protecting unaccompanied minors seeking asylum. Gallagher rejected government arguments that returning Lozano-Camargo was unnecessary due to an adverse asylum determination, emphasizing that due process requires a full hearing rather than a prejudged outcome. The man was deported under the Alien Enemies Act along with other Venezuelans accused of gang affiliation, despite his pending asylum claim. The judge's ruling highlights the administration's ongoing resistance to court orders regarding deported migrants and reiterates the importance of honoring legal settlements and due process. Gallagher gave the administration a short window to appeal but indicated she would demand compliance if higher courts do not intervene. There is no public evidence yet that the administration has taken steps to bring Lozano-Camargo back to the United States.