A federal judge has found the Trump administration in contempt for deporting an asylum-seeker to El Salvador, according to left-leaning and center outlets. Axios and Newsweek reported the judge ordered the government to bring the deported teen back to the United States.
Axios identified the judge as U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher, a Trump appointee, and reported this is the second time she has held the administration in contempt in the same case. Axios reported the judge found the government violated orders dating from November 2024, April 2025 and July 2026.
Separately, right-leaning outlets reported on a different legal dispute over deportation policy. The Federalist and The Daily Wire reported that the Department of Justice asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stay a ruling by Massachusetts-based District Judge Brian Murphy, whom The Federalist and The Daily Wire described as a Biden appointee, that had blocked part of the administration's deportation policy.
The Daily Wire reported that Solicitor General D. John Sauer filed the emergency application with the Supreme Court on Thursday, following what the outlet described as a late-night ruling from the Massachusetts court. It is not clear from the supplied material whether the Gallagher case and the Murphy case involve the same deportation flights or individuals.
How each side covered it
Left
- USA Today and ABC News reported a judge found DHS or the Trump administration in contempt over a wrongful deportation.
- ABC News reported the asylum-seeker was deported to El Salvador in violation of three court orders.
“Judge finds Trump administration in contempt for twice deporting asylum-seeker” — ABC News
Center
- Axios and Newsweek reported the judge ordered the deported teen returned to the United States.
- Axios identified the judge as Trump appointee Stephanie Gallagher and noted this was the second contempt finding in the same case.
- Axios specified the violated orders dated from November 2024, April 2025 and July 2026.
“Trump-appointed judge again holds admin in contempt over deportation” — Axios
Right
- The Federalist and The Daily Wire reported the DOJ asked the Supreme Court to stay a Massachusetts judge's deportation-related ruling.
- Both outlets identified the DOJ filing as an emergency application submitted by Solicitor General D. John Sauer.
- The Daily Wire described the underlying ruling as resulting from a 'late-night ambush' that disrupted deportation flights.
- Both outlets identified the Massachusetts judge, Brian Murphy, as a Biden appointee.
“Trump DOJ Wastes No Time After Judges Pull Deportation Move” — The Daily Wire
Questions readers ask
What happened in the deportation contempt case?
U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher found the Trump administration in contempt for deporting a young asylum-seeker to El Salvador in violation of three court orders, and ordered the government to bring him back to the United States, according to Axios and Newsweek.
Why does this case matter?
Axios reported it is the latest clash between the Trump administration and federal courts over deportations carried out despite judicial protections, and the second time this judge has held the administration in contempt in the same case.
What did left- and right-leaning outlets focus on?
Left-leaning and center outlets focused on Judge Stephanie Gallagher's contempt finding over the deportation of an asylum-seeker to El Salvador, while right-leaning outlets focused on the Department of Justice's Supreme Court filing seeking to stay a separate ruling by Judge Brian Murphy in Massachusetts.
What is the Supreme Court being asked to do?
According to The Federalist and The Daily Wire, the Department of Justice asked the Supreme Court to stay a lower court order from District Judge Brian Murphy in Massachusetts that blocked part of the administration's deportation policy.
What happens next?
The supplied material does not specify a timeline, but it indicates the deported asylum-seeker is to be returned to the U.S. under Judge Gallagher's order, while the Supreme Court has yet to rule on the DOJ's emergency stay request in the Murphy case.
Sources · 6 outlet reports
- ABC NewsLeft-leaningJudge finds Trump administration in contempt for twice deporting asylum-seeker
- USA TodayLeft-leaningJudge finds DHS in contempt after wrongful deportation
- AxiosCenterTrump-appointed judge again holds admin in contempt over deportation
- NewsweekCenterJudge Finds DHS in Contempt, Orders Deported Teen Be Returned
- The Daily WireRight-leaningTrump DOJ Wastes No Time After Judges Pull Deportation Move
- The FederalistRight-leaningDOJ Asks SCOTUS To Stop Judicial Sabotage Of Deportations — Again