Thread by @kyledcheney

Hello from Greenbelt, MD, a few hours before an urgently arranged court hearing in the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

DOJ is under a court order to provide an update on efforts to bring him to the U.S. from El Salvador by 9:30am.

politico.com/news/2025/04/1…

DOJ trying to cancel today's hearing and delay filing a response to the judge's order.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…

On the filing: Drew Ensign, who argued the Alien Enemies Act case before Judge Boasberg.

UPDATE: The 9:30 deadline has passed with no information from the Justice Department about Abrego Garcia's location or status, as demanded by the judge. She has not granted an extension, unclear if she will.

UPDATE: Abrego Garcia's lawyers urge the judge to reject DOJ's effort to delay. They say the government was under order for multiple days to begin facilitating Abrego Garcia's return prior to Chief Justice Roberts' stay order on Monday. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…

JUST IN: Judge Xinis *grants* the government a partial extension ... to 11:30 AM. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…

UPDATE: We have arrived at 11:30 with no responsive filing from the Justice Department yet. Hearing still set for 1pm. politico.com/news/2025/04/1…

BREAKING: DOJ says it won't comply with Judge Xinis' order because the deadline she set is "impracticable."

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…

DOJ's position ignores Xinis' request for information about steps that the administraiton has already taken – not just the ones it might take in the future.

HERE WE GO: Judge Xinis has taken the bench.

XINIS begins by summing up SCOTUS order, which she notes "affirmed all aspects of my decision and prior orders save for requiring clarification."

"This court amended its prior order and made clear what the government must do consistent with the Supreme Court’s directive."

XINIS now asks for update on Abrego Garcia's current physical location and custodial status.

ENSIGN: We are still internally reviewing the Supreme Court's decision and vetting what we can say to this court.

XINIS: "What to you mean ... this is a very direct question."

ENSIGN says he has not been told where Abrego Garcia is.

XINIS is frustrated. Says this is basic information that she ordered be provided.

ENSIGN: I do not have that information provided to me.

XINIS now demanding details on what the administration has done to facilitate Abrego Garcia's release.

ENSIGN: "the defendants are not yet prepared to share that information"

XINIS: "That means they've done nothing."

XINIS wants a 'yes or no' answer to whether the administration has done anything whatsoever to facilitate Abrego Garcia's release/return. Ensign continues to say he has no information.

XINIS notes Supreme Court said admin shoud be prepared to provide info but they aren't.

XINIS: "The Supreme Court has spoken quite clearly and yet I can’t get an answer"

ENSIGN says the government cna be prepared to file something by Tuesday but that responses "may include assertions of privilege."

XINIS: “We’re not going to slow-walk this … we’re not relitigating what the Supreme Court has already put to bed.”

ENSIGN: "We read the Supreme Court's order differently."

Lawyers for Abrego Garcia say the Trump administration is "playing games," depriving DOJ of information the court has demanded. They want her to demand testimony from officials in the know.

XINIS seems reluctant for now. Says she may do a "very quick briefing order."

XINIS says she will demand daily updates from the government. "We’re going to make a record of what, if anything the government is doing or not doing."

Says she'll rule as quickly as she can.

HEARING OVER: Judge Xinis will require daily updates from the govenrment on three things:

1) Abrego Garcia's location/status
2) What efforts it has previously undertaken to get him back (while her order was in effect)
3) What efforts it may take going forward.