A U.S. Department of Justice attorney, Erez Reuveni, has been placed on administrative leave following his role in a controversial deportation case. Reuveni, who serves as an immigration lawyer for the department, represented the government in the mistaken deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who was deported despite a standing court order explicitly stating that he should not be removed from the country.

The error stemmed from a clerical mistake, but the situation escalated when Reuveni was unable to adequately respond to key questions surrounding the case. When pressed on why El Salvador could not be asked to return Garcia, Reuveni reportedly replied, “ask my clients the same question,” a remark that drew sharp criticism from department leadership.

Attorney General Pam Bondi responded swiftly to the incident, issuing a statement underscoring the responsibilities of Justice Department attorneys. “Every Department of Justice attorney is required to zealously advocate on behalf of the United States,” Bondi said. “An attorney who fails to abide by this direction will face consequences.”

The deportation of Garcia has sparked concerns about oversight and accountability within the immigration system. Although the court order should have protected Garcia from removal, the mistake led to his forced return to El Salvador, prompting legal and political scrutiny.

Reuveni’s placement on leave reflects a broader call within the Trump administration for stricter adherence to departmental duties and higher performance standards from federal attorneys. The case is likely to further fuel discussions around immigration policy enforcement and the legal safeguards in place to prevent such errors.