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2.0

ICE Director terminates CAT deferral grants to remove immigrants to country of torture

  1. Original Date Announced

    August 7, 2026

    The New York Times reports that the Trump administration deported to Mexico a group of Mexican nationals whose removal to that country had previously been blocked by an immigration court's grant of deferral of removal under the Convention Against Torture. Acting ICE Director David Venturella unilaterally terminated the grants of CAT deferral based upon diplomatic assurances provided to the State Department from the Mexican government that the deportees would not be tortured. DHS confirmed the termination of CAT protections. According to immigration experts, there has only been one case, from 2008, in which the ICE director similarly attempted to terminate an immigration judge's grant of CAT deferral but that was rebuffed by a court.

    Trump 2.0 [ID #2360]

    2027.08.07 Reported: Trump Officials Deport Group of Mexicans Despite Torture Risk - New York Times
  2. Effective Date

    August 7, 2026
  3. Subsequent Trump and Court Action

    August 21, 2026

    2026.08.21 Order Granting TRO - Doe v. Guadian

    The District of Maryland granted plaintiff John Doe a temporary restraining order and ordered the government to immediately facilitate the return of Doe to the United States. The court found that the government likely violated Doe’s due process rights when it terminated his Convention Against Torture (CAT) protection and deported him to Mexico without giving him a meaningful opportunity to challenge the decision, given the serious risk that Doe could be tortured or killed there. Doe v. Guadian, Case No. 1:26-cv-03330 (D. Md.).

    **Link to case here. Our litigation entries generally report only the initial complaint and any major substantive filings or decisions. For additional information, CourtListener provides access to PACER and all available pleadings. Other sites that track litigation in more detail or organize cases by topic include Civil Rights Clearinghouse, Justice Action Center, National Immigration Litigation Alliance, and Just Security**

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Current Status

None

Original Trump Policy Status

Trump Administration Actions: Agency Directive Change in Practice
Agencies Affected: ICE

Documents

Trump-Era Policy Documents

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