The White House has strongly criticized a federal judge who stated that officials violated a court order by deporting eight migrants to South Sudan.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt labeled District Judge Brian Murphy a “liberal activist.”
She accused him of “massive judicial overreach” for ruling that the government defied his March injunction.
The injunction prevented sending migrants to countries where they might face persecution or torture.
Leavitt claimed Judge Murphy is forcing officials to stay in Djibouti for over two weeks.
She argued this threatens US diplomatic ties and endangers agents with “illegal murderers, criminals and rapists.”
Leavitt asserted that Judge Murphy, a Massachusetts district court judge, cannot dictate US foreign policy or national security.
This ruling followed DHS confirmation of the deportation of eight migrants with violent criminal convictions.
Lawyers for the migrants argued they were denied due process before deportation.
Government lawyers confirmed the migrants are in ICE custody but withheld their final location.
An attorney reported her client was sent to South Sudan, a country with human rights issues and instability.
Judge Murphy noted the migrants had minimal notice, being informed Monday evening before Tuesday’s flight.
He stated they lacked a meaningful chance to object to their transfer to South Sudan, with only a 24-hour window.