In a dramatic legal move, the Department of Justice has filed a formal complaint against the U.S. District Court of Maryland.
At the heart of the matter is a controversial “Standing Order” that automatically blocks federal immigration enforcement actions the moment a detainee files a habeas petition.
According to the DOJ, this kind of blanket injunction — issued by the court without the usual case-by-case legal assessment — oversteps judicial authority, undermines federal law, and clashes directly with decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court.
How the Court’s Order Changes the Game
The Maryland court’s order essentially forces the clerk to grant an automatic injunction whenever a non-citizen being detained in the state files a legal challenge to their detention.
That means federal immigration officials are immediately restricted from deporting or even changing the legal status of that individual — all without going through the normal legal process required for such injunctions.
The Justice Department is calling this a blatant violation of established legal procedure and congressional intent.
Instead of reviewing each case on its own merits, the court’s blanket approach bypasses the necessary legal scrutiny, they argue.
Attorney General Blasts the Ruling as Undemocratic
Attorney General Pamela Bondi didn’t mince words in her response.
She linked this latest order to a broader pattern she believes has been undermining President Trump’s authority since day one.
“From the very start of his presidency, we’ve seen a flood of court rulings designed to block his agenda,” she said.
“This isn’t just about immigration — it’s about respecting the will of the voters and the separation of powers.
We can’t allow this kind of judicial overreach to continue.”
A Bigger Trend of Courts Clashing with the Executive Branch
According to the DOJ, this issue with the Maryland court isn’t an isolated one.
They say federal district courts have issued more nationwide injunctions in Trump’s first 100 days than were issued in the entire century before.
They view this as a systematic abuse of power by courts that are interfering too heavily with the executive branch’s ability to enforce laws.
The complaint against the District Court of Maryland is being described by the DOJ as part of a broader effort to put a stop to what they see as a concerning trend of unlawful court interference.
What Comes Next?
While the full legal fight will unfold in the coming weeks and months, this complaint marks another chapter in the ongoing tension between federal courts and the Trump administration’s immigration agenda.
For those wanting to dig deeper into the legal arguments, the Department of Justice has made the full complaint available to the public.