The Justice Division has positioned on indefinite paid depart the legal professional who argued on behalf of the federal government on Friday in a lawsuit introduced by a Maryland man who was deported to El Salvador in error, sources acquainted with the matter informed ABC Information.
Sources mentioned Erez Reuveni, the performing deputy director for the Workplace of Immigration Litigation, was informed by officers on the DOJ that he was being positioned on depart over a “failure to zealously advocate” for the federal government’s pursuits.
“At my route, each Division of Justice legal professional is required to zealously advocate on behalf of the USA,” Lawyer Common Pam Bondi mentioned in a press release on Saturday. “Any legal professional who fails to abide by this route will face penalties.”
Lawyer Common Pam Bondi speaks at a information convention on the Justice Division, Feb. 12, 2025, in Washington.
Ben Curtis/AP, FILES
The federal government is looking for to attraction an order from the decide who presided over Friday’s listening to and ordered the division to facilitate the return of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia by Monday.
In Friday’s listening to, Reuveni repeatedly struggled when pressed by Decide Paula Xinis of the U.S. District Courtroom for the District of Maryland for particulars surrounding Abrego Garcia’s deportation — and why the administration claimed it couldn’t facilitate his return to the USA.
The outside of the Terrorist Confinement Middle as Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem arrives, in Tecoluca, El Salvador, Mar. 26, 2025.
Alex Brandon/AP
At one level within the listening to, Reuveni was requested by Xinis underneath what authority legislation enforcement officers seized Abrego Garcia.
Reuveni mentioned he was annoyed that he didn’t have these solutions.
“Your honor, my reply to loads of these questions goes to be irritating, and I am additionally annoyed that I’ve no solutions for you on loads of these questions,” Reuveni mentioned.
