A federal judge has voiced serious concerns about her personal safety following a public statement she describes as a deliberate attack by the Trump administration regarding an immigration ruling.

DHS Accused of Misleading the Public

The judge sharply criticized the administration for disseminating what she termed a “patently false” public statement that misrepresented her decision in a case involving Bryan Rafael Gomez, a 27-year-old individual. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a statement headlined “Activist Biden Judge Releases Violent Criminal Illegal Alien Wanted for Murder,” which remained on their website for days after the judge publicly corrected the inaccuracies.

Withheld Information and Court Admission

The core of the issue centers on the withholding of information regarding a 2023 arrest warrant issued for Gomez by authorities in Santo Domingo. Kevin Bolan, an attorney with the Justice Department, admitted in court that he was instructed by ICE officials not to disclose this warrant to the judge during the initial proceedings. He offered a “profuse apology” to the judge, acknowledging the administration’s claim was untrue.

Impact on Judicial Integrity

The judge, the first openly LGBTQ judge on the Rhode Island federal bench, emphasized the importance of public accuracy and the harmful effects of the false narrative. She stated the continued presence of the inaccurate post created a misleading impression and undermined public trust in the judicial process.

DHS Response and Keyword Manipulation

The DHS, through acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis, had previously labeled the judge as an “activist judge appointed by Joe Biden” and accused her of releasing a “wanted murderer” into American communities. Despite the Justice Department’s admission of falsehood, the DHS refused to address questions from Politico, directing them back to the original, inaccurate press release. Furthermore, the DHS added the keyword tags “ALIEN” and “ILLEGAL” to the page hosting the statement on May 1, the same day Bolan’s declaration disavowed the central claim.

Potential Sanctions and Ongoing Concerns

The judge questioned whether the withholding of the warrant information was intentional, designed to facilitate the political attack against her. She is considering contempt sanctions against DHS or DOJ officials, citing a “serious breakdown in ethical codes” and a “massive breach of this court’s trust.” She acknowledged rebuilding trust would be a lengthy process but expressed optimism it was achievable.

Background of the Case

Gomez was initially arrested in Worcester, Massachusetts, on assault and battery charges and subsequently detained by ICE. The judge ruled that the statute under which he was held did not apply to his case, leading to his release to his Massachusetts home. A decision on whether to return him to detention has been deferred.

This incident highlights escalating tensions between federal judges and the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies, with courts increasingly addressing issues of missed deadlines, false statements, and disregard for court orders. The judge noted that presenting the warrant to the court under seal would have been the appropriate course of action if Bolan had confidentiality concerns. She placed the primary responsibility for the misconduct on ICE, emphasizing the severity of the ethical violations and the damage to the court’s integrity.