First Circuit Court Pauses Block on Third-Country Deportations

The First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals granted an administrative stay on March 11, 2026, temporarily blocking a lower court order that had restricted the Department of Homeland Security's ability to deport illegal immigrants to third countries. The appellate court's decision provides a near-term reprieve for the Trump administration just hours before the original restriction was set to take effect.

The original ruling, issued February 25 by Massachusetts District Court Judge Brian Murphy in the case D.V.D. v. U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, found that the third-country removal process was unlawful and violated constitutional due process. Judge Murphy ruled that individuals facing removal to a country not previously identified in their proceedings must receive notice and an opportunity to raise fear-of-torture claims. The case specifically involves six individuals convicted of serious crimes whose home countries refused repatriation.

Lawyers for the Trump administration argued that Judge Murphy's order created an unworkable scheme that threatened sensitive international negotiations and thousands of planned deportations. The appellate stay preserves the status quo while the court considers the government's request for a longer pause. The case is expected to undergo a full review by the Supreme Court of the United States.