Biden-appointed judge at center of repeated clashes with Trump administration issues new immigration block
The Supreme Court has twice reversed Judge Brian Murphy's immigration rulings, including with a rare 7-2 clarification order
By Ashley Oliver Fox News
Published April 9, 2026 6:00pm EDT
A Biden-appointed federal judge twice rebuked by the Supreme Court temporarily blocked another Trump administration immigration priority, postponing the termination of temporary protected status for Ethiopians living in the U.S.
Judge Brian Murphy of Massachusetts, who has become a frequent legal hurdle for the Trump administration, found that the Department of Homeland Security did not follow proper protocols when it decided to cancel the temporary protected status (TPS) of more than 5,000 Ethiopians in the United States.
DHS' decision would have made the migrants eligible for deportation in 60 days and aligned with the Trump administration's goal of dramatically narrowing the government's use of TPS as part of its immigration crackdown.
Conservatives lashed out at Murphy on social media for dealing another loss to the president they perceived as unjust. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said the ruling was not subject to judicial review under federal immigration law. Murphy had found that DHS did not meet the necessary conditions under the law to legally cancel TPS.
"This Rogue Judge lacks the subject matter jurisdiction to issue this order," Schmitt said. "The assault on the rule of law continues."
George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley pointed to his writings on Murphy, saying "this system cannot function with such rogue operators at the trial level."
Murphy emerged as a thorn to the government when he issued a series of rulings last year blocking DHS from deporting migrants to countries other than their nations of origin, leading the Supreme Court to twice reverse his rulings, including by issuing a rare 7-2 clarification saying that Murphy had flouted the high court's order.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-appointed-judge-center-repeated-clashes-trump-admin-issues-new-immigration-block
