The Trump administration requested a delay in discovery citing claims of privilege and filed a sealed motion to pause discovery for seven days after a federal judge ordered them to respond more fully to discovery requests related to Abrego Garcia's wrongful deportation.

The federal judge accused the Trump administration of 'bad faith,' stonewalling, and non-compliance by providing ambiguous and non-specific responses to discovery requests, failing to disclose important information about Abrego Garcia's deportation, and refusing to cooperate fully with the court-ordered investigation.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran native living in Maryland with his family, was wrongfully deported in March to a Salvadoran prison despite a 2019 court order barring his deportation due to fear of persecution. The Trump administration claimed he was affiliated with the MS-13 gang, which Abrego Garcia and his wife deny. The Supreme Court had ordered his return to the U.S.

The judge ordered an expedited and intensive two-week discovery investigation, ordered government officials to testify under oath, and criticized the administration's boilerplate objections and lack of good faith response. The judge has characterized the administration's conduct as deliberate and intentional non-compliance.

The case highlights ongoing tensions between the executive branch and the judiciary over immigration enforcement and judicial authority, showcasing disputes over compliance with court orders in cases involving wrongful deportation.