Power Grab/Fire anyone who can stop him
ICE deported a protected 19-year-old to El Salvador for the second time this year, and a judge found the government in contempt
E.L.A., a member of the J.O.P. v. DHS class, was removed on September 1, 2026, 3 weeks after the government had returned him so USCIS could decide his asylum claim.
What happened
On September 1, 2026, ICE flew E.L.A., a 19-year-old Salvadoran asylum seeker and member of the J.O.P. v. DHS class, from a Louisiana detention center to El Salvador. It was his second removal of the year. He had first been deported on March 14 and confirmed as a class member on May 22.
The government had returned him on August 7 so that USCIS could decide his asylum claim. Three weeks later ICE removed him again. Government counsel cited “communication errors.” He was flown from a Louisiana detention center, and the removal came while the asylum claim USCIS was to decide was still open.
Judge Stephanie Gallagher, a Trump appointee, found the government in contempt of 3 orders on September 25 and ordered his return. She had already held DHS in contempt on July 29 over removals of class members. The government said E.L.A. did not wish to return without assurances; his return was unconfirmed on October 9.
Who benefited
ICE completed a removal of a young man whose asylum claim was pending, 3 weeks after the government had brought him back to have it decided. The removal went ahead despite his status as a class member, and the government’s explanation was “communication errors.” The record shows the removal stands and he has not returned.
Who wanted something
The government wanted E.L.A. out of the country, and it removed him twice in 6 months. The first removal, on March 14, came before he was confirmed as a class member. The second came after it returned him on August 7 for USCIS to decide his claim.
Who lost out
E.L.A., 19, was sent back to El Salvador a second time while his asylum claim was pending, and he had not been returned as of October 9. The government said he did not wish to return without assurances. The court found it in contempt of 3 orders and ordered his return.
Why it matters
A federal judge found the government in contempt of 3 orders over this removal and ordered his return, and he was not back 2 weeks later. Gallagher had held DHS in contempt on July 29 over class-member removals as well. The court said so, and as of October 9 nothing had changed for E.L.A.
Sources U.S. District Court, D. Md. (primary)U.S. District Court, D. Md. (class counsel letter) (primary)Bloomberg LawAxios