02/28/2026
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that a Department of Homeland Security policy that allows immigration authorities to deport migrants to "third countries" that are not their own, without first giving them notice or the opportunity to object, is unlawful.
U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Massachusetts sided with a group of noncitizens who filed a class-action lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security last year. He ruled that the Trump administration's policy regarding third-country removals must be set aside.
"The Supreme Court previously issued two separate emergency stays against Judge Brian Murphy in this case, and we are confident we will be vindicated again," the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement, adding that the Trump administration "has the constitutional authority to remove these criminal illegal aliens and clean up this national security nightmare."
"DHS must be allowed to execute its lawful authority and remove illegal aliens to a country willing to accept them," the department said.
