Judge won’t lift order requiring return of Venezuelan migrant deported under Trump policy

A federal judge in Baltimore, MD, has refused to change her order requiring the Trump administration to bring back a 20-year-old Venezuelan asylum seeker deported to El Salvador. U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher rejected the government’s request to amend her ruling and ordered the government to return Daniel Lozano-Camargo to U.S. soil.

Judge Gallagher, a Trump appointee, agreed to pause the ruling for 48 hours, giving the government time to appeal to the 4th Circuit. If the court declines, she will set a formal timeline for the government to bring Lozano-Camargo back to the U.S.

Lozano-Camargo, who was previously referred to as “Cristian” in court documents, was deported to El Salvador in March under the Trump administration’s Alien Enemies Act deportations. Judge Gallagher ruled in April that the government violated a 2024 settlement with a group of young asylum seekers, including Lozano-Camargo, which prohibited their deportation until their cases were fully heard in court.

The judge emphasized that her decision is about due process protections and allowing Lozano-Camargo to have his day in court. She stated that his removal without adjudication in a U.S. court pre-judges the outcome and denied him the opportunity to challenge his case.

The Trump administration argued that Lozano-Camargo was eligible for removal under the Alien Enemies Act due to his arrest and conviction for cocaine possession in Houston. However, Judge Gallagher reiterated that the case is not about the strength of his asylum request but ensuring he receives a fair process under the law and the settlement agreement.

The government’s appeal to the 4th Circuit is due by Thursday afternoon. Judge Gallagher made it clear that due process is crucial, even in cases where the outcome may seem obvious, as individuals are entitled to a trial under U.S. law.

Breanne Deppisch, a national politics reporter for Fox News Digital, covers the Trump administration, with a focus on the Justice Department, FBI, and other national news. The case of Daniel Lozano-Camargo highlights the importance of upholding due process rights for all individuals, regardless of their circumstances.