Elena Kagan denied an emergency request from four Mexican nationals seeking to delay their deportation, allowing removal orders to move forward. The individuals—Fabian Lagunas Espinoza, Maria Angelica Flores Ulloa, and their two children—had asked the Supreme Court of the United States to intervene so they could continue appealing their case.
According to court filings, the family fled Guerrero in 2021 after allegedly being threatened by the Los Rojos cartel. Their legal team argued they faced serious danger if returned. However, their claims were previously rejected by an immigration judge, a decision later upheld by the Board of Immigration Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Justice Kagan handled the request individually and declined to pause the deportations or refer the matter to the full court. The denial, issued without comment, means the family must comply with instructions from immigration authorities while any remaining legal challenges proceed.
The case unfolds amid broader legal disputes involving immigration enforcement under Donald Trump. In a separate matter, tensions have emerged between lower courts and the Supreme Court over jurisdiction in deportation-related cases, including one involving James Boasberg. Legal analysts note that these disputes reflect ongoing debates about the balance of authority between courts and the executive branch in immigration policy.