Appeals court rules Trump admin can continue quickly deporting illegal migrants to third countries

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit did not give a reason for the ruling but allowed the deportations to continue in a 2-1 decision.

Published: March 16, 2026 3:51pm

A federal appeals court ruled Monday that the Trump administration can continue its swift deportation efforts of illegal migrants to third countries, overturning a lower court's ruling that the practice was illegal.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit did not give a reason for the ruling but allowed the deportations to continue in a 2-1 decision. The panel also expedited the schedule for the case’s next phase, according to The Hill.

Judge Lara Montecalvo, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, dissented, while Judge Jeffrey Howard, nominated by former President George W. Bush, and Judge Seth Aframe, another Biden nominee, ruled in the majority.

The order comes after U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy directed the Trump administration last month to first try to remove migrants to the country they come from, and provide migrants with a “meaningful opportunity” to contest their deportation if they cannot return to their home country and once a third country is selected. 

The order is expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court.

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