Removal to Third Country

8 proceedings tracked · Active

Challenges to the administration's practice of deporting non-citizens to third countries (El Salvador, Libya, South Sudan, Ghana) without notice or the opportunity to raise country-specific protection claims. Courts have repeatedly found due process violations and issued emergency relief. Supreme Court emergency applications have arisen from this cluster, including the landmark Abrego Garcia case.

Policy Challenge

Policy Challenge

J.O.P. v. Department of Homeland Security

8:19-cv-01944 · D. Md. · 2019-07-01

A 2024 court order in this long-running case prohibited removal of class members with pending asylum applications. Following the removal of a class member in April 2025 under the third-country removal policy, the administration was held in contempt.

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Habeas Corpus

Bastidas v. Dickerson

4:24-cv-00185 · M.D. Ga. · 2024-12-17

A Venezuelan citizen removed to El Salvador on March 15, 2025 filed a habeas corpus petition challenging his detention at CECOT without a hearing.

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Habeas Corpus

Edicson v. Dickerson

4:25-cv-00050 · M.D. Ga. · 2025-02-10

A Venezuelan man deported to El Salvador and held at CECOT filed an amended habeas petition requesting release from the prison.

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Policy Challenge

Policy Challenge

D.V.D. v. Department of Homeland Security

1:25-cv-10676 · D. Mass. · 2025-03-23

Non-citizens with final removal orders challenged the policy of deporting individuals to El Salvador and other third countries without first providing the opportunity to raise country-specific protection claims. Court issued emergency relief.

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Habeas Corpus

Abrego Garcia v. Noem

8:25-cv-00951 · D. Md. · 2025-03-24

Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia sued the Trump administration following his deportation to El Salvador, despite a 2019 withholding-of-removal order in his favor. SCOTUS ordered the government to facilitate his return. He was returned to the US in May 2025.

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Habeas Corpus

Vaamondes Barrios v. DHS

1:25-cv-01759 · D.D.C. · 2025-03-31

Miguel Vaamondes Barrias, a Venezuelan with a removal order to Venezuela (not El Salvador), was deported to CECOT. He filed for habeas corpus seeking transfer to his designated country of removal.

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Policy Challenge

Policy Challenge

1:25-cv-03135 · D.D.C. · 2025-09-11

Non-citizens granted fear-based relief from being sent to their countries of origin sued over removal to Ghana, where they face the same persecutory risks the original relief was meant to prevent.

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Habeas Corpus

Phan v. Department of Homeland Security

1:25-cv-11924 · D. Mass. · 2025-07-07

Eight immigrants held at a US Naval Base in Djibouti and at risk of deportation to South Sudan filed a habeas petition requesting that the court prevent the administration from proceeding with removal.

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Docket on CourtListener