Seven Federal Judges Rule Against Trump Administration This Week: Key Judicial Setbacks

Federal judges across the United States have stepped up their scrutiny of the Trump administration's policies, issuing a series of high-profile orders that temporarily or permanently block a range of government actions. The flurry of judicial activity comes as tensions continue to escalate between the executive branch and the courts, with both sides trading accusations of overreach and constitutional violations.

Among the most notable rulings this week was the decision by a federal judge in Colorado to halt the deportation of Mohamed Soliman’s wife and five children. Soliman, an Egyptian national under federal investigation for a recent firebombing attack in Boulder, had already submitted an asylum application for his family. Despite the family's visa overstay, the court's temporary restraining order prevents their removal until at least a June 13 hearing, offering them a crucial window to argue their case. The emergency legal protection was granted after advocacy from a friend, highlighting concerns about abrupt deportations without adequate due process.

The judicial pushback did not stop there. In Maryland, a federal judge allowed news outlets' request to unseal records in the high-profile case of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadorian migrant who was deported in what officials called an "administrative error." The judge further authorized a motion for sanctions against the administration, potentially opening the door to penalties if wrongdoing is proved. The Supreme Court has also intervened, ordering the administration to facilitate Garcia's return to the U.S.

Meanwhile, a judge in Washington state sided with Denver and other local governments by granting a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration's threats to withhold nearly $4 billion in transportation grants. The court found these threats likely exceeded the Executive Branch’s authority and violated the Separation of Powers, underscoring the far-reaching impact such funding cuts could have had on local infrastructure projects.

In another major setback for the administration, a federal judge instructed the government to restore millions of dollars in AmeriCorps funding and reinstate thousands of laid-off employees. The abrupt cuts, carried out by the Department of Government Efficiency, were found to be in violation of federal law, affecting programs and personnel across two dozen states and the District of Columbia. The judge also demanded the reinstatement of hundreds of millions in congressionally approved funding for AmeriCorps programs.

Concerns over federal employment programs continued to surface as yet another judge blocked the closure of 99 Job Corps centers. The Department of Labor had justified the move citing concerns over cost-effectiveness, graduation rates, and security incidents at the centers. But the restraining order represents a significant victory for the National Job Corps Association and others committed to maintaining opportunities for disadvantaged youth to access education and job training.

Courts also weighed in on high-stakes immigration issues elsewhere. In Oregon, a judge barred ICE from removing a 24-year-old transgender asylum seeker from a Washington detention facility, ordering the agency to detail and justify its removal procedures. And in New York, a judge blocked ICE from arresting Yunseo Chung, a Columbia University student targeted for deportation following her participation in anti-Israel protests. The ruling was celebrated by advocates as a win for freedom of speech and due process, reflecting broader concerns about the intersection of immigration enforcement and protest activity on American college campuses.

Together, these rulings highlight an increasingly assertive judiciary determined to act as a check on the Trump administration’s use of executive power. As courtroom battles continue from Colorado to Washington D.C., the divide between the executive branch and the judiciary appears deeper than ever—setting the stage for further legal confrontations and potential Supreme Court showdowns in the months ahead.