A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked a judge’s order requiring the Trump administration to return a Venezuelan asylum seeker who was deported despite having a pending case.
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued the stay while it reviews the administration’s challenge to the original ruling. The case centers on 20-year-old Daniel Lozano-Camargo, who was removed from the country even though his asylum request had not been resolved.
A lower court had previously ruled that the deportation violated a 2019 settlement protecting migrants with active asylum claims from removal without due process. The court found that Lozano-Camargo’s rights had likely been infringed and ordered his return to the U.S.
The Trump administration has defended the deportation by citing the Alien Enemies Act, arguing that certain Venezuelan nationals present a national security threat due to alleged ties to transnational gangs. However, several judges have raised concerns about the law’s use in this context and its implications for due process protections.
The appeals court has requested additional briefs from both sides and is expected to issue a decision in the coming weeks. The outcome could have broader implications for immigration policy, particularly regarding the rights of asylum seekers facing expedited removal.