Judges Condemn Justice Department for Violating Immigration Orders

Federal judges have increasingly ordered the Justice Department to explain why it should not be punished for violating court orders in immigration cases — at least 35 times since August. In one Minnesota proceeding, Judge Laura M. Provinzino found Matthew Isihara, a Justice Department lawyer on temporary assignment from the military, in civil contempt after a detained immigrant was released in the wrong city and had identity papers withheld.

The judge ordered Mr. Isihara to pay $500 a day until the documents were returned; the papers arrived by overnight FedEx and the contempt order was lifted. Those so-called “show cause” orders have come from courts in California, Texas, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, West Virginia and Puerto Rico, and arose from cases in which the government detained immigrants who had been living in the United States for years after entering illegally.

Judges have criticized administration lawyers for testifying dishonestly, misstating the law and failing to comply promptly with orders.

United States, Minnesota

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