The Trump administration’s Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against all 15 federal district court judges in Maryland, challenging a judicial order that imposes a 48-hour pause on deportations under legal challenge. This unprecedented legal move targets a standing order issued by Chief Judge George L. Russell III, which grants a two-day stay of deportation to detainees who file habeas corpus petitions alleging wrongful detention.

According to the Washington Post, the judge implemented the order in response to a surge in such petitions, many filed outside normal court hours, which led to rushed hearings and difficulty obtaining accurate information on detainees’ status. The Justice Department argues the order is unlawful and undermines immigration enforcement, stating that administrative inconvenience does not justify violating legal norms. This lawsuit highlights ongoing tensions between the judiciary and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement, particularly in Maryland, where federal courts have seen multiple legal challenges to the administration’s immigration policies.