A federal judge in Maryland has ordered the Trump administration to return a 20-year-old Venezuelan asylum seeker, known as "Cristian," who was deported to El Salvador. The deportation violated a court settlement protecting young migrants with pending asylum claims, according to an order issued Wednesday (April 23).

U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher, appointed by President Donald Trump, ruled that Cristian's removal breached a 2024 settlement agreement from a class action case filed in 2019. This agreement protected individuals who arrived in the U.S. as unaccompanied minors and sought asylum, ensuring they would not be deported until their claims were fully adjudicated. Judge Gallagher directed the government to work with Salvadoran authorities to facilitate Cristian's return to the United States. She emphasized that the deportation was a "breach of contract" and required the government to make a "good faith request" to El Salvador for Cristian's release to U.S. custody.

Cristian was deported on March 15 after being convicted of cocaine possession in Texas in January. The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act, claiming Cristian was a member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, and argued that this designation removed him from the class action protections. However, the judge's order asserts that the Alien Enemies Act does not exclude individuals from the settlement agreement.

This ruling is the second of its kind, following a similar case involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The Trump administration has faced criticism for its handling of these cases, with allegations of noncompliance and intentional disregard for court orders. The administration has maintained that it is not obligated to work with El Salvador to secure returns, despite court directives to facilitate the process.

RJ Harris