A federal judge has accused the Trump administration of attempting to circumvent US court orders prohibiting the deportation of five African immigrants. The administration's alleged strategy involved sending the immigrants to Ghana, with the intention that Ghana would then transfer them to countries where they could face torture or death, effectively bypassing existing legal protections.
US District Judge Tanya Chutkan expressed serious concerns, stating that the administration's actions appeared to be a deliberate attempt to sidestep court obligations. The judge ordered the government to provide a detailed explanation of its plan to ensure Ghana would not violate these court orders by facilitating further deportations to dangerous locations. This action followed the revelation that one of the plaintiffs had already been transferred from Ghana to Gambia, a country where a US court had previously ruled against their deportation.
The Department of Justice argued that Judge Chutkan lacked the authority to control how Ghana treats deportees, citing a Supreme Court ruling allowing the administration to send immigrants to third countries, even if those individuals haven't had a chance to express concerns about potential torture. However, the judge countered by highlighting a previous case involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia, where the Trump administration mistakenly deported him to El Salvador despite a court order. The subsequent struggle to return Abrego Garcia to the US underscores the administration's past difficulties in managing such situations.
The judge's concerns about the current case are significant. She explicitly questioned the administration's claim of lacking control over Ghana's actions, demanding a clear response on how the US intends to ensure the safety and compliance with court orders for the remaining immigrants. A deadline was set for the administration to file a detailed declaration outlining its plan to prevent further violations.
---
Originally published at: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/13/politics/judge-ghana-deportation-trump-administration
