On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, NBC News reported that the Justice Department accused a federal judge of defying a Supreme Court ruling in a dispute over the deportation of migrants to South Sudan.
The accusation came after a Supreme Court decision on Monday that removed nationwide restrictions on the Trump administration’s policy of sending migrants to third countries with which they have no prior connection.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer filed a motion with the Supreme Court seeking clarification of its Monday ruling. The motion addressed a case involving a group of migrants detained at a U.S. facility in Djibouti, whom the administration intends to deport to South Sudan.
Sauer argued that U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy, based in Massachusetts, misinterpreted the Supreme Court’s decision. Murphy had issued an order on May 21 preventing the deportation of these migrants, and he stated in a docket entry that he believed the Supreme Court’s ruling did not affect his order.
The Supreme Court’s decision on Monday was not accompanied by an explanation, leaving uncertainty about which of Murphy’s rulings were impacted. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in a dissenting opinion, suggested that Murphy’s May 21 order remained unaffected.
The detainees, eight in total according to the plaintiffs, though earlier reports mentioned six, are covered by Murphy’s order, which aimed to protect them from being sent to countries where they might face torture, persecution, or death.
Sauer’s filing described Murphy’s stance as an act of defiance that disrupts diplomatic relations and hinders the administration’s deportation efforts. He urged the Supreme Court to clarify that Murphy’s enforcement order is void and to address what he called irreparable harm to the executive branch. Sauer also raised the possibility of removing Murphy from the case entirely, citing the judge’s actions as undermining the administration’s authority.
The Justice Department’s motion highlighted concerns about the ongoing detention of the migrants at a military base in Djibouti, near a region experiencing conflict. Sauer argued that the judge’s order forces the government to continue housing these individuals under challenging circumstances.
Lawyers representing the migrants are expected to respond promptly to the Justice Department’s filing. The dispute has drawn attention from administration officials, with White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller addressing the issue on Fox News on Monday evening. Miller indicated that further action would be taken to hold the judge accountable for what he described as a refusal to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Source: NBC News
