DOJ Seeks Substantial Sanctions Against California Immigration Attorney

Following a presidential memorandum from President Donald Trump directing action against legal misconduct, the U.S. Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, is seeking substantial monetary sanctions against California immigration attorney Joshua Schroeder. Schroeder is accused of filing baseless habeas corpus petitions in three separate courts in an attempt to prevent the deportation of his client, Vang Lor, who has a decades-old attempted murder conviction and is subject to removal under the Immigration and Nationality Act, not under the Alien Enemies Act as Schroeder claimed. The DOJ's motion alleges Schroeder acted in bad faith, unnecessarily prolonged proceedings, and imposed costs on American taxpayers by forcing the government to respond to multiple meritless filings and reschedule deportation logistics. The filings were made in the District Court of Guam, the Northern District of Texas, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The DOJ argues that sanctions are necessary both to deter Schroeder from continuing such practices and to dissuade other attorneys from engaging in similar misconduct, aligning with Trump's directive to prevent abuses of the legal system. This move underscores the administration's broader effort to enforce immigration laws and hold legal representatives accountable for frivolous litigation.