Republican Congressman Greg Steube from Florida has introduced articles of impeachment against federal judge John E. Steele. He accuses Steele of overstepping his authority when he ordered the release of Miakel Guerra Morales, a Cuban citizen convicted of hijacking a plane in 2003. Guerra Morales was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while awaiting deportation.
The resolution, labeled as H.Res. 1431, claims that the judge committed "high crimes and misdemeanors" by granting a habeas corpus petition on July 8 and ordering Guerra Morales' release within 24 hours, not allowing the government enough time to file an appeal.
"This is precisely the type of activist judicial overreach that Americans are fed up with," Steube stated in a press release.
Steube criticized ICE's decision to hold a convicted air pirate while attempting to deport him, and yet the judge still ordered his release.
"Judges cannot disregard the safety of the American people simply because it is inconvenient for their agenda," he asserted. "They must be held accountable when they prioritize immigrants with criminal backgrounds over the communities they swore to protect."
Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, Lauren Bis, described the judicial decision as "another example of an activist judge" attempting to hinder President Donald Trump's immigration policy, which focused on deporting foreigners with criminal records.
Guerra Morales was found guilty in the United States for his involvement in the hijacking of an Aerotaxi DC-3 on March 19, 2003. A group of Cubans diverted the plane from Nueva Gerona, Isle of Youth, to Key West, Florida. The aircraft landed safely without casualties after being escorted by U.S. fighter jets.
He received a 22-year federal prison sentence for this act, which he served in full.
Upon his release, ICE detained him again in December 2025 with the intention of deporting him. However, his expulsion was halted because an immigration judge had previously granted him protection under the Convention Against Torture, fearing he might face persecution or mistreatment if returned to Cuba.
Legal Precedent and its Implications
In ordering his release, Judge Steele applied the precedent set by the Supreme Court in the case of Zadvydas v. Davis (2001), which limits the detention duration of an immigrant when deportation is not reasonably foreseeable.
The judge noted that the government had been attempting to execute the deportation for years without presenting a concrete plan or proving that another country, like Mexico, was willing to accept the Cuban national.
Since then, Guerra Morales remains free under ICE supervision and wears an electronic ankle monitor, while the government keeps the option open to detain him again if they manage to find a country willing to accept his deportation.
Growing Tensions Between Branches of Government
Steube's initiative escalates the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and parts of the judiciary over immigration policy decisions.
This is not the first time the congressman has pushed for such a measure. In June, he introduced another resolution to remove federal judge John J. McConnell Jr. from Rhode Island after he blocked several of the administration's immigration policies.
However, the likelihood of such a process succeeding is slim. In U.S. history, only eight federal judges have been removed by the Senate, all for acts like corruption, bribery, or perjury, rather than for the content of their judicial decisions.
Key Questions on the Impeachment Attempt
Why is Congressman Greg Steube seeking to impeach Judge John E. Steele?
Steube accuses Judge Steele of overstepping his authority by ordering the release of Miakel Guerra Morales, a Cuban convicted of plane hijacking, without allowing sufficient time for an appeal.
What legal precedent did Judge Steele use to order the release of Guerra Morales?
Judge Steele applied the precedent from the Supreme Court case Zadvydas v. Davis, which limits detention time when deportation is not reasonably foreseeable.
What are the chances of the impeachment process succeeding?
The chances are low, as historically only eight federal judges in the U.S. have been removed by the Senate, and these were for reasons like corruption or perjury, not for their judicial decisions.