In the hallowed halls of American justice, impartiality should reign supreme. Judges are entrusted with upholding the law, not advancing personal ideologies or obstructing the will of the people. Yet, in the case of U.S. District Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan, we see a glaring example of how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and activist tendencies can undermine the very foundations of our judicial system. Appointed by President Joe Biden and confirmed in a narrowly partisan vote, Judge Sooknanan has repeatedly demonstrated a bias that prioritizes progressive agendas over legal precedent and national security. For the sake of restoring faith in our courts, she should immediately resign.
Born in Trinidad and Tobago and immigrating to the United States, Sooknanan’s rapid ascent to the federal bench—clerking for Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and serving in the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division—raises questions about merit versus identity politics. Her nomination and confirmation in late 2024 were mired in controversy, with critics pointing to her past criticisms of her own law firm for representing the Trump administration and her work on civil rights issues that align closely with left-leaning causes. This isn’t about her heritage or qualifications on paper; it’s about whether DEI hiring practices are placing activists on the bench who rule based on ideology rather than the Constitution.
Take her recent ruling on August 31, 2025, where she issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from deporting 76 unaccompanied Guatemalan children. These minors, orphaned in America due to the Biden administration’s border policies, had self-reported that their parents were back in Guatemala, and the Guatemalan government formally requested their return for family reunification. Instead of facilitating this humane process, Sooknanan ordered them returned to U.S. government shelters, effectively preventing reunions and burdening American taxpayers. Stephen Miller, a key architect of Trump’s immigration policies, rightly called this “utter and complete madness,” highlighting how it traps thousands more smuggled minors in limbo.
This isn’t an isolated incident. In July 2025, Sooknanan ordered the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to release funds for fair housing initiatives, a move seen by many as advancing progressive policies at the expense of fiscal responsibility. Earlier, in mid-August, she blocked a Federal Trade Commission investigation into Media Matters, citing First Amendment concerns, which critics argue protects left-leaning organizations from scrutiny. And in other cases, she’s been accused of overstepping bounds, such as in rulings on travel bans and labor board removals, where her decisions often align against conservative administrations.
Conservative voices across social media and beyond have decried Sooknanan as a “DEI judge” and “activist,” arguing her actions constitute a “judicial coup” against the Trump administration’s efforts to secure borders and enforce laws. Terms like “rogue judge” and calls for impeachment echo loudly, as her rulings appear to slow down deportations of criminal illegal aliens and hinder family reunifications.
Judges should not be DEI hires or activists; they must be impartial arbiters of justice. When they act otherwise, as Sooknanan has, they erode public trust and invite chaos. It’s time for her to step down voluntarily before Congress is forced to intervene. Our nation deserves better—judges who serve the law, not an agenda.