Judge SLAMS DOJ Attorney — Chaos in Immigration Courts

A judge striking a gavel on a wooden desk

A Minnesota federal judge held a DOJ attorney in contempt over mishandled immigration enforcement, exposing deep flaws in the overwhelmed court system that President Trump’s policies aim to fix.

Story Snapshot

Federal judge in Minnesota finds DOJ lawyer in contempt in a first for Trump’s second term, highlighting immigration case chaos.
Judge later lifts contempt order but blasts government attorneys for poor handling amid massive court backlogs.
Immigration courts face record 1.7-1.8 million pending cases with 900-day average waits, straining resources.
DOJ announced changes to appeals in February 2026 to speed deportations under Trump’s enforcement push.

Contempt Ruling Shines Light on Immigration Court Crisis

A federal judge in Minnesota held a Department of Justice attorney in civil contempt during an immigration case involving ICE enforcement. This marked the first such instance in President Trump’s second term. The ruling stemmed from failures in handling deportation proceedings for an Ecuadorian national. The judge expressed frustration with government attorneys’ performance, pointing to systemic breakdowns in the immigration courts. Staffing shortages and resource limits exacerbate these issues daily.

Record Backlogs Hamper Trump’s Deportation Agenda

Immigration courts now juggle 1.7 to 1.8 million pending cases as of early 2026, the highest ever recorded. Average wait times stretch to about 900 days per case. These delays undermine swift enforcement of border security and interior removals, core pillars of Trump’s America First policies. Limited judges and support staff cannot keep pace with the influx from years of lax enforcement under prior administrations. Conservatives see this backlog as a direct threat to national sovereignty and public safety.

Trump’s executive actions since January 2025 target these problems head-on. Orders expanded expedited removals nationwide, ended catch-and-release, and blocked asylum at the border. Yet courts remain clogged, slowing deportations of criminal aliens and others who entered illegally. This frustrates patriots who demand accountability and efficiency in protecting American communities from illegal immigration’s burdens like crime and strained services.

Judge Lifts Contempt but Delivers Scathing Critique

On February 20, 2026, the Minnesota judge lifted the contempt order against the DOJ attorney. Even so, the court blasted government handling of the ICE case, calling out repeated lapses. This incident underscores tensions between judicial oversight and executive enforcement efforts. Trump’s administration pushes for faster proceedings to clear backlogs and prioritize deportations, aligning with voter mandates against open borders and sanctuary policies that erode rule of law.

DOJ changes to immigration appeals, announced in February 2026, aim to streamline Board of Immigration Appeals processes. These reforms reduce frivolous delays, enabling quicker removals. Supporters argue they restore order after Biden-era policies flooded courts with meritless claims. For families and workers hit by wage suppression and housing shortages from unchecked migration, these steps bring long-overdue relief and uphold constitutional priorities of secure borders and limited government.