Justice Department Attorney Placed on Paid Leave After Arguing Deportation Case
Erez Reuveni voiced concerns regarding the government's reluctance to pursue the return of an individual who was mistakenly deported.
TroibNews 
A Justice Department attorney who openly voiced concerns regarding the government’s handling of the wrongful deportation of a Maryland man to a high-security prison in El Salvador has been placed on administrative leave, according to a DOJ official on Saturday.
Erez Reuveni represented the Trump administration during a federal court hearing on Friday, where lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia successfully secured a court order requiring the government to ensure his return to the U.S. after he was deported last month due to what immigration officials termed a clerical error.
Reuveni appeared less than enthusiastic about the government's stance in the case, informing U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis that he had urged his “clients” to take measures to bring Abrego Garcia back. He also mentioned that his attempts to obtain more information for the court regarding why officials classified Abrego Garcia as a member of MS-13 had been met with resistance.
According to authorities, Abrego Garcia illegally entered the United States in 2012. In 2019, an immigration judge ruled that he could not be deported to El Salvador, citing a legitimate risk of persecution there. This ruling was still in effect when the Trump administration deported him last month.
As the hearing concluded on Friday, Reuveni requested Judge Xinis to postpone her ruling for 24 hours so he could persuade the government to alter its position. The White House contends that the judge lacks the jurisdiction to mandate Abrego Garcia’s return.
“I would ask the court to give us, the defendants, one more chance to do this,” Reuveni stated. “That’s my recommendation to my client, but so far that hasn’t happened.”
After a brief recess, Judge Xinis decided against delaying the ruling and ordered the federal government to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. by midnight on Monday.
On Saturday, Attorney General Pam Bondi released a statement indicating that Reuveni, who has been with the DOJ for nearly 15 years and was recently appointed acting deputy director of the Office of Immigration Litigation, had not adequately defended the government's position.
“At my direction, every Department of Justice attorney is required to zealously advocate on behalf of the United States. Any attorney who fails to abide by this direction will face consequences,” Bondi remarked.
Reuveni did not provide an immediate response to an email requesting comment on Saturday. His placement on paid leave was first reported by The New York Times, which claimed to have obtained a letter from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche that suspended Reuveni for not adhering to “a directive from your superiors” and for “engaging in conduct prejudicial to your client.”
In response to Judge Xinis' ruling on the return of Abrego Garcia, who is a citizen of El Salvador, the Justice Department promptly appealed. On Saturday, the DOJ submitted a motion asking the judge to stay her ruling, as well as a similar motion to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals based in Richmond, Virginia.
Reuveni's name appeared on the appeal filed on Friday but was absent from the court documents submitted on Saturday.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
Erez Reuveni represented the Trump administration during a federal court hearing on Friday, where lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia successfully secured a court order requiring the government to ensure his return to the U.S. after he was deported last month due to what immigration officials termed a clerical error.
Reuveni appeared less than enthusiastic about the government's stance in the case, informing U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis that he had urged his “clients” to take measures to bring Abrego Garcia back. He also mentioned that his attempts to obtain more information for the court regarding why officials classified Abrego Garcia as a member of MS-13 had been met with resistance.
According to authorities, Abrego Garcia illegally entered the United States in 2012. In 2019, an immigration judge ruled that he could not be deported to El Salvador, citing a legitimate risk of persecution there. This ruling was still in effect when the Trump administration deported him last month.
As the hearing concluded on Friday, Reuveni requested Judge Xinis to postpone her ruling for 24 hours so he could persuade the government to alter its position. The White House contends that the judge lacks the jurisdiction to mandate Abrego Garcia’s return.
“I would ask the court to give us, the defendants, one more chance to do this,” Reuveni stated. “That’s my recommendation to my client, but so far that hasn’t happened.”
After a brief recess, Judge Xinis decided against delaying the ruling and ordered the federal government to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. by midnight on Monday.
On Saturday, Attorney General Pam Bondi released a statement indicating that Reuveni, who has been with the DOJ for nearly 15 years and was recently appointed acting deputy director of the Office of Immigration Litigation, had not adequately defended the government's position.
“At my direction, every Department of Justice attorney is required to zealously advocate on behalf of the United States. Any attorney who fails to abide by this direction will face consequences,” Bondi remarked.
Reuveni did not provide an immediate response to an email requesting comment on Saturday. His placement on paid leave was first reported by The New York Times, which claimed to have obtained a letter from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche that suspended Reuveni for not adhering to “a directive from your superiors” and for “engaging in conduct prejudicial to your client.”
In response to Judge Xinis' ruling on the return of Abrego Garcia, who is a citizen of El Salvador, the Justice Department promptly appealed. On Saturday, the DOJ submitted a motion asking the judge to stay her ruling, as well as a similar motion to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals based in Richmond, Virginia.
Reuveni's name appeared on the appeal filed on Friday but was absent from the court documents submitted on Saturday.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
