U.S. Court Stops Rapid Third-Country Deportations Across the Country

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 15: Detainees board a plane chartered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at King County International Airport on April 15, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. Semi-regular flights carrying detainees pass through the airport as the Trump administration continues to plan for the expansion of immigrant detention and deportation. (Credit: Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)

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  A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled Friday that DHS cannot send migrants to countries where they have no ties without first giving them real notice and a chance to object.

• The decision largely upholds a February 2026 judgment from U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy, though the panel dropped one piece of his order on procedural grounds.
• DHS insists the policy remains active because the ruling hasn't taken legal effect yet, setting up what would be the case's third stop at the Supreme Court.

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What the Boston Panel Actually Decided