Slow down court proceedings

Attorneys for mistakenly deported man slam Trump admin for trying to slow down court proceedings

From CNN's Devan Cole

Attorneys for a man mistakenly deported to El Salvador tore into the Trump administration on Friday over its efforts to slow down court proceedings over his return to the US, accusing the government of “arrogance and cruelty.”

Lawyers for Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who was deported on March 15, pushed back strongly on the administration’s request to US District Judge Paula Xinis for more time to inform the judge of the steps being taken to “facilitate” his return, as well as its suggestion that the judge cancel a hearing over the matter set for Friday afternoon.

“The Government continues to delay, obfuscate, and flout court orders, while a man’s life and safety is at risk,” the lawyers wrote in a short court filing. “Its request for an extension — filed this morning in defiance of the Court’s rules requiring consultation with Plaintiffs’ counsel — is another stunning display of arrogance and cruelty.”

They continued: “We vigorously oppose the Government’s motion, and we further request that the Government immediately report on Mr. Abrego Garcia’s safety and well being. We will attend the scheduled hearing at 1 p.m.”

What the Trump administration is saying: Earlier Friday, Justice Department attorneys blew past a 9:30 a.m. ET deadline Xinis gave the government to submit a sworn statement from an individual “with personal knowledge” of the steps the government has taken or is planning to take to secure the return of Abrego Garcia. Instead, the lawyers told the judge that they wanted until Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET to provide the sworn statement and urged her to reschedule a hearing she set for 1 p.m. Friday.

The judge has yet to comment on the DOJ filing.