Judge rules Trump administration must return deported Venezuelan asylum seeker

In the United States, a federal court case has emerged concerning Daniel Lozano-Camargo, a 20-year-old Venezuelan asylum seeker who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador in March 2023. This deportation occurred while his asylum request, filed in December 2022, remained pending, violating a previous settlement agreement between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and a group of young asylum seekers. U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher ruled that Lozano-Camargo's removal constituted a breach of contract, reinforcing the importance of due process in immigration proceedings. The judge emphasized the necessity of allowing individuals the opportunity for their claims to be properly adjudicated, without pre-judging the outcome. Despite the government's assertions that Lozano-Camargo might be a member of a gang designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, Gallagher maintained that the settlement agreement had not exempted any cases from judicial process, including those involving the Alien Enemies Act under which many of these deportations were made. The government has examined whether it could appeal Gallagher's ruling, highlighting the contentious and complex nature of immigration policy during the Trump administration, particularly how it affected vulnerable populations and their legal rights. This case reflects ongoing legal battles over the rights of those seeking asylum, alongside the broader implications of U.S. immigration policy and the judicial branch's role in ensuring that due process is upheld.