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Federal judge tosses Trump lawsuit against Maryland judges over deportation

August 26, 2025

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Federal judge tosses Trump lawsuit against Maryland judges over deportation

Trump Administration’s Lawsuit Against Maryland Judges Dismissed by Federal Judge

A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Trump administration against all 15 judges of the district court in Maryland over a policy regarding deportation cases. Judge Thomas Cullen, appointed by President Donald Trump, scolded the administration for the confrontational lawsuit and cited judicial immunity and lack of standing as reasons for dismissal.

Background of the Lawsuit

The lawsuit targeted a standing order issued by Chief Judge George Russell, which required court clerks to automatically enter administrative pauses in deportation cases brought by alleged illegal immigrants. These pauses temporarily prevented the Department of Homeland Security from deporting or changing the legal status of immigrants until a judge reviewed the case.

Government attorneys argued that the standing order encroached on the DHS’s authority over immigration policy and criticized the court for interfering with deportation proceedings.

Judge’s Ruling and Criticism

Judge Cullen, who presided over the case, criticized the administration for choosing a confrontational path instead of challenging the policy on a case-by-case basis. He noted the administration’s efforts to tarnish the reputation of the judiciary branch and called it unprecedented and unfortunate.

Cullen’s ruling was met with an appeal from the Trump administration to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Implications and Next Steps

The dismissal of the lawsuit highlights the tension between the executive and judicial branches of government. The case also underscores the challenges faced by the Trump administration in implementing its immigration agenda.

It remains to be seen how the administration will respond to the ruling and whether it will seek alternative avenues to address its concerns regarding deportation cases in Maryland.

See also Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tough Bronx persona is under fresh scrutiny with a resurfaced childhood nickname from her suburban upstate New York upbringing casting doubt on that publicly portrayed image. The progressive champion’s latest spat with President Donald Trump over the Iran strikes again called into question her true upbringing when she declared on X she was a “Bronx girl" to make her a point against the president. The 35-year-old congresswoman wrote in part on X: "I’m a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully," she said, referring to the president’s upbringing in Queens as she called for his impeachment over his decision to bypass Congress in authorizing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown – which is nearly an hour outside New York City -- when she was 5 years old and went on to attend Yorktown High School where she graduated in 2007. She was considered an accomplished student there and well thought of by teacher Michael Blueglass, according to a 2018 report by local media outlet Halston Media News. “There, known by students and staff as ‘Sandy,’ she was a member of the Science Research Program taught by Michael Blueglass," the report states. “She was amazing," Blueglass said, per the report. “Aside from her winning one of the top spots and going to the [Intel International Science and Engineering Fair], she was just one of the most amazing presenters in all of the years I've been at Yorktown. Her ability to take complex information and explain it to all different levels of people was fantastic." After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she majored in economics and international relations, per the report. Ocasio-Cortez’s “Sandy" nickname — which carries a more suburban and preppy tone — appears to undercut her politically crafted image as a tough, inner-city fighter, one she has portrayed since her famous 2018 congressional campaign where she eventually ousted former 10-terms Congressman Joe Crowley. New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater, who now represents Yorktown, added to the scrutiny of Ocasio-Cortez’s persona in the wake of her brash with Trump and released images of Ocasio-Cortez from his high school yearbook. He claimed he and the rising Democratic star attended Yorktown High School at the same time when she was a freshman and he was a senior. "I saw the attacks on the president and her [Ocasio-Cortez] claims that she's a big, tough Bronx girl," said Slater. "To sit there and say that she’s a Bronx girl is just patently ridiculous." "Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie," said Slater on "Fox & Friends First" last week. "She grew up in Yorktown, she was on my track team." "She's lying about her background, she's lying about her upbringing," Slater claimed. Slater’s post sent social media ablaze and prompted Ocasio-Cortez to respond after an image if her family’s home was posted online. “I’m proud of how I grew up and talk about it all the time," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Friday responding to the post. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped. We cleaned tutors’ homes in exchange for SAT prep." “Growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown deeply shaped my views of inequality & it’s a big reason I believe the things I do today!"

Written by: Ashley Oliver, Reporter for Fox News Digital and FOX Business, covering the Justice Department and legal affairs. For story tips, email ashley.oliver@fox.com.