Court orders Trump administration to bring back man deported by mistake

A federal appeals court has ruled that the Trump administration must work to bring back Jordin Melgar-Salmeron, a man sent to El Salvador in error. The court’s decision came after he was deported just 30 minutes after judges ordered officials to keep him in the U.S. This marks the fourth time the administration has been told to return someone deported improperly.

Melgar-Salmeron, 31, had been held in immigration detention since 2022 while his deportation case was ongoing. In January 2024, the Biden administration paused its case due to broader legal challenges over immigration policies. However, in April 2025, the Trump administration moved to restart its deportation process. Despite a court order on May 7 to stop his removal, he was put on a flight to El Salvador shortly after.

The court, made up of judges appointed by both Trump and Biden, pointed to a Supreme Court ruling in a similar case involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia. That decision required the government to ensure deportees’ cases are handled fairly, as if they had not been sent away. The judges blamed the deportation on “administrative errors” but stressed the need for Melgar-Salmeron’s return to the U.S. for proper legal proceedings.

This case highlights ongoing concerns about the Trump administration’s deportation practices, with critics arguing that such errors show a pattern of ignoring court orders. The administration now faces pressure to fix these mistakes and ensure due process for those affected.