Cnn
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The Ministry of Justice has set up an immigration lawyer for the government who expressed this week not being able to answer the key questions of a judge on an erroneous expulsion case, according to two familiar people with the case.
Erez Reundi argued the case of government in the expulsion of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, who The government said was sent to his native Salvador last month due to an office error, despite an order from the court that he was not expelled.
Reveni said the government’s position in court: “Our only arguments are jurisdictional. … He should not have been sent to Salvador.”
When asked why the United States could not just ask for his return, Rebeni said: “The first thing I did when I got this case on my desk is to ask my customers the same question,” adding that he had not had a direct answer.
The Attorney General Pam Bondi participated in the way Rebeni dealt with the case in court.
“In my direction, each lawyer of the Ministry of Justice is required to argue with zeal on behalf of the United States. Any lawyer who does not respect this direction will face consequences,” she said in a statement at CNN.
Bondi issued a memo on his first day as a prosecutor General forcing lawyers to defend “zeal” of administration or to face disciplinary measures and potential layoffs.
August Flengerje, the Rebeni supervisor, was also put on administrative leave, according to a person familiar with the issue. ABC News reported on Saturday that Flentje had been informed that he had failed to supervise a subordinate. CNN contacted Flustje and the Ministry of Justice for Comments.
Rebeni did not respond to a request for comments. On LinkedIn five months ago, he posted that he had been promoted to a new position as an interim assistant director at the Immigration Dispute Bureau.
Fllantje, whose LinkedIn profile lists its title as deputy director of the immigration dispute office, is known for his work defending the Traveling prohibition In the first Trump administration, a role that aroused criticism from certain colleagues from the Doj.
In a legal file earlier this week, the Trump administration conceded that Greo Garcia, father of three children from Maryland, had been expelled “due to an administrative error”. This deposit seemed to be the first time that the administration has admitted an error linked to its recent expulsion flights to El Salvador, which are now at the center of a difficult legal battle.
“On March 15, although Ice was aware of his protection against the dismissal to Salvador, Abrego Garcia was moved to Salvador due to an administrative error,” said the March 31 file of the Trump administration.
A Maryland judge ordered that Garcia Garcia be returned on Monday eveningBut the Trump administration on Saturday filed an emergency stay try to block the order. The administration said that she could not return it because he is now in the Salvadorian police custody.
Abrego Garcia, who said that lawyers fled the gang violence in Salvador over ten years ago, had been identified by his wife in a photo of prisoners entering Cecot, the country Mega notorious prison.
This story has been updated with additional information.
Kaanita Iyer of CNN and Priscilla Alvarez contributed to this report.