Biden-Appointed Judge Defies SCOTUS, Blocks Trump's Expanded Deportations in Nationwide Injunction

U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, a Biden appointee, issued a nationwide injunction on August 29, 2025, halting President Trump's expansion of expedited removals for illegal aliens, claiming the policy risks deporting those entitled to remain without due process.

Cobb's 48-page ruling argued the "skimpy process" violates Fifth Amendment rights, blocking a January 2025 executive order that extended fast-track deportations beyond border areas to anywhere in the U.S. for those unable to prove two years' presence. The policy, first implemented in 2019 during President Trump's first term and rolled back under Biden, aimed to swiftly remove threats to national security and public safety.

This decision directly contravenes the Supreme Court's June 27, 2025, ruling in Trump v. CASA, Inc., where a 6-3 majority held that district courts exceed their authority with broad injunctions, limiting relief to specific plaintiffs rather than nationwide blocks. Justice Barrett's opinion emphasized such overreach disrupts executive functions, yet Cobb's order applies universally, embodying judicial insurrection by ignoring SCOTUS precedent.

Lower courts have repeatedly targeted President Trump's agenda with similar overreaches. Since January 2025, over 300 lawsuits have challenged his policies, far exceeding those against prior administrations—Biden faced about 150 in his first eight months, while Obama saw fewer than 100. Immigration actions alone drew 200+ suits in Trump's first term.

SCOTUS has overturned a high percentage of these rulings, reversing or staying 77% of lower-court injunctions against Trump policies. The administration lost 60-93% of lower-court cases but prevailed in most SCOTUS appeals, highlighting activist judges' bias. This pattern delays enforcement, undermining border security and public safety.