Bombshell report reveals many judges ruling against Donald Trump have one thing in common
Washington D.C.: A bombshell report in The Federalist has revealed that the US District Court for the District of Columbia has 15 active judges, five of whom were born outside the United States.
Critics have questioned whether foreign-born judges, some with past criticisms of Trump, should oversee cases involving national security, immigration, and executive authority.
Historically, the DC District Court’s senior judges — many appointed as far back as the Reagan era — were all US-born. But since 2014, foreign-born judges have joined the bench, all nominated by Democratic presidents:
Judge Tanya Chutkan (Jamaica, appointed by Obama) presides over a case challenging Trump-era government spending cuts.
Judge Amit Mehta (India, Obama appointee) oversees civil lawsuits seeking to hold Trump liable for January 6-related injuries.
Judge Ana Reyes (Uruguay, Biden appointee) blocked Trump’s military policy on gender dysphoria.
Judge Amir Ali (Canada, Biden appointee) reinstated $2 billion in foreign aid paused by Trump and has publicly criticized his travel ban.
Judge Sparkle Sooknanan (Trinidad and Tobago, Biden’s last-minute appointee) recently ruled to maintain a Democrat-led labor board.
"The Federalist' report states that none of these judges had prior judicial experience before their appointments. Some, like Ali, have openly opposed Trump’s policies, raising concerns about bias. Ali, who became a US citizen only in 2019, once called Trump’s travel ban a product of "prejudice and intolerance".
According to the report, all five foreign-born judges have handled cases challenging Trump’s agenda — with none ruling in his favor. Meanwhile, similar cases in conservative states often yield different outcomes. Legal experts debate whether this reflects ideological leanings or mere coincidence.
The concentration of foreign-born judges in a single district, one that frequently rules on presidential authority, has sparked debate.