In June 2025, U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy, based in Boston, sparked controversy by allegedly defying a Supreme Court ruling that allowed the Trump administration to deport criminal illegal aliens to third countries without extensive due process. The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision on June 23 paused Murphy’s April injunction, which required migrants to have a “meaningful opportunity” to challenge deportations to nations like South Sudan, citing risks of torture or persecution. Hours after the ruling, Murphy issued an order asserting that his separate May 21 decision, protecting eight migrants held in Djibouti, remained unaffected.
An activist judge just defied the Supreme Court to try to keep seven criminal aliens in the USA.
— Senator Eric Schmitt (@SenEricSchmitt) June 24, 2025
Let's meet those 7 illegals: an arsonist, an armed robber, a murderer of an elderly woman, two more murderers, a child rapist, and a rapist of someone with special needs.🧵
This move was labeled “lawless defiance” by Solicitor General D. John Sauer, who argued it disrupted diplomatic efforts to deport “the worst of the worst” criminals. Critics, including White House officials, accused Murphy, a Biden appointee and Columbia Law graduate, of activist overreach, while supporters, aligned with Justice Sotomayor’s dissent, argued he was upholding due process against hasty deportations.
This leftwing radical Biden judge got jammed through the Senate in December, in the lame-duck session after Democrats lost the White House and Senate.
— 🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸 (@mrddmia) June 24, 2025
Six months into the job, Massachusetts U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy is now openly defying a Supreme Court order.
Impeach. https://t.co/IPZXvq01Gd pic.twitter.com/0tLkwqMRHk
The clash highlighted tensions between judicial authority and executive immigration policy, with Murphy’s actions prompting threats of accountability from Trump officials, escalating debates over judicial activism and immigration enforcement.