Justice Department Admits Violating Dozens of New Jersey Court Orders

The United States Department of Justice admitted in court filings that federal authorities violated between 50 and 56 judicial orders in immigration cases in New Jersey from December 5, 2025, through February 2026. These failures occurred amid a surge of 547 habeas corpus petitions tied to the mass deportation campaign of the Trump administration.

Associate Deputy Attorney General Jordan Fox characterized the errors as unintentional administrative oversights and logistical communication delays. The violations included missing bond hearing deadlines, failing to complete discovery, and 17 unauthorized transfers of detainees out of state. In one instance, a man was erroneously deported to Peru despite a judicial injunction.

U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz described the volume of violations as an extremely troubling sign and noted that judicial orders should never be violated, especially by federal officials. He ordered the government to file an affidavit by February 25 detailing specific procedures to ensure 100% compliance with future orders.

Similar systemic issues have emerged in other regions. In Minnesota, a federal judge found 96 violations of court orders in January, while a former federal prosecutor there described a failing system and extreme professional exhaustion.