Department Of Homeland Security Points To Another Agency When Asked About Court-barred Deportations

Attorneys for the Department of Homeland Security say the agency didn't violate a judge's order detailing when people may be deported to countries other than their own because it was the Defense Department - not DHS officials - doing the deporting.

Justice Department attorney Mary Larakers made the argument in a court document filed Wednesday, suggesting that U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy's order wasn't violated because the Defense Department isn't a defendant in the lawsuit.

Murphy's order, first issued March 28, blocked the Trump administration from deporting people who have exhausted legal appeals to countries other than their country of origin unless they are told of their destination and given a chance to object if they fear they will face torture or death there.

Some countries do not accept deportations from the United States, which has led the Trump administration to strike agreements with other countries like Panama to house them. Some Venezuelans subject to Trump's Alien Enemies Act have been sent to El Salvador and housed in its notorious main prison.

In the court filing, Larakers said four people were deported to El Salvador on March 31 - three days after Murphy issued the restraining order - but said that was done by the Defense Department, and DHS officials were not on the flight and did not direct the removals.