President Donald Trump gestures while speaking during an executive order signing event in the Oval Office of the White House March 31, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Fox News Digital; Getty Images)
The Justice Department appealed the case to the 4th Circuit earlier this month.
The majority opinion, published Monday night, rejected its request, stressing what judges said was their role in ensuring the courts have the ability to prevent any attempted "degradation of effective judicial review" by the executive branch.
"As is becoming far too common, we are confronted again with the efforts of the Executive Branch to set aside the rule of law in pursuit of its goals," Judge DeAndrea Gist Benjamin said, writing for the majority. "It is the duty of courts to stand as a bulwark against the political tides that seek to override constitutional protections and fundamental principles of law, even in the name of noble ends like public safety."
"The Government’s breach denied Cristian the benefit of the bargain and the process he was due," Gregory added.
President Donald Trump meets with President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador in the Oval Office of the White House April 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Process, she said, is important for various reasons, noting that even when outcomes in certain criminal cases or trials seem obvious, individuals are still entitled to a trial under U.S. law.
"We don’t skip to the end and say, ‘We all know how this is going to end, so we’ll just skip that part,'" she said.
This was also upheld by the judges of the appellate court.
"The Government's breach denied Cristian the benefit of the bargain and the process he was due," Benjamin said, writing for the majority.
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The job of the courts is to "say what the law is," she said. "The task is delicate but cannot be shirked."
It is unclear whether the Trump administration will appeal the case to the Supreme Court.
Breanne Deppisch is a national politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering the Trump administration, with a focus on the Justice Department, FBI, and other national news.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-faces-another-deportation-setback-hands-fourth-circuit-appeals-court