Attorney urges court to enforce order after trans inmate transfers
An attorney urged a federal judge to enforce the injunction against transgender inmate transfers.
Why it matters: This case underscores critical legal battles over transgender inmates' treatment and prison compliance with court rulings, affecting corrections law and civil rights.
- On June 7, 2026, Judge Lamberth blocked transfers of 14 transgender women to men's prisons.
- In July 2026, concerns arose over alleged transfers of trans inmates to a segregated unit in Fort Worth, Texas.
- Plaintiffs argue segregated housing worsens mental health and violates court orders.
- The Justice Department says transfers comply with the order and inmates should use grievance procedures first.
On June 7, 2026, U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth issued a preliminary injunction
blocking the Trump administration's Bureau of Prisons (BOP) from transferring 14 transgender women to men's prisons, citing safety risks and constitutional concerns. This injunction directly responded to President Donald Trump's 2025 executive order, which mandated housing inmates according to their biological sex and halted gender-affirming care.
Despite this injunction, on July 29, 2026, during a hearing in Doe v. McHenry, Judge Lamberth questioned whether the BOP violated his prior order by transferring transgender inmates to a segregated unit in Fort Worth, Texas, rather than housing them in women’s facilities. He bluntly asked, "You're violating my order, aren't you?"
Plaintiffs' attorney Alexander Shalom criticized these transfers as a "backdoor attempt to implement the executive order," emphasizing that the segregated conditions are punitive and exacerbate gender dysphoria, causing serious mental health harm. He stated, "The conditions are not in any way comparable to a women's facility."
Meanwhile, the Justice Department argued that the transfers did not breach the court’s ruling. Their attorney, Jared Littman, stated that plaintiffs must exhaust administrative grievance procedures before taking legal action and cannot "jump right into court and air their grievances."
This dispute highlights ongoing tensions between federal prison policies under the Trump administration and court efforts to protect transgender inmates’ rights and safety. The case will test the limits of court authority over prison administration and the enforcement of injunctions related to inmate treatment.
By the numbers:
- 14 transgender women — blocked from transfer to men's prisons by June 7, 2026 injunction
- June 7, 2026 — date of preliminary injunction by Judge Lamberth
- July 29, 2026 — hearing where compliance concerns arose
Yes, but: The Justice Department maintains the transfers comply with court orders and administrative procedures must be exhausted first.
What's next: Further court hearings are anticipated to determine enforcement and clarify treatment of transgender inmates under the injunction.