US President Donald Trump has appointed Abhishek Kambli, a lawyer of Indian origin, to defend his administration’s controversial use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The appointment comes amid a legal storm after hundreds of immigrants—allegedly linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua—were deported, despite a federal judge’s order to temporarily halt the process.
Kambli, who joined the US Department of Justice just a month ago as Deputy Associate Attorney General, has quickly emerged as a key legal strategist for the Trump administration in this high-stakes battle.
Who is Abhishek Kambli?
Originally from India, Abhishek Kambli moved to the United States at the age of three and grew up in Norwalk, Connecticut. He initially pursued a career in the arts, graduating with a degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Arts in 2006, and spent a few years in the entertainment industry before transitioning to law. He later earned his Doctor of Law degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Kambli began his legal career in 2013 at Dyess Air Force Base, where he served as lead prosecutor and supervised other trial attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants. In 2014, he was named the top litigator among base prosecutors and was soon promoted to Defense Counsel, providing legal defense services to over 4,000 Air Force personnel.
During his time with the US Air Force, he represented Mustafa al-Hawsawi—alleged financier of the 9/11 attacks—before the Military Commissions at Guantanamo Bay, according to his LinkedIn profile.
In 2019, Kambli became an Assistant US Attorney with the United States Attorneys’ Offices, where he led federal prosecutions in the Southern District of Indiana and acted as an international coordinator supporting foreign law enforcement. He also continues to serve in the Air Force Reserves as a Judge Advocate General officer.
Most recently, in October 2023, he was appointed Deputy Attorney General and Division Chief for Special Litigation and Constitutional Issues in the Kansas Attorney General’s office.
Over the years, Kambli has taken on several high-profile cases, including successfully challenging the Biden administration’s $475 billion student loan forgiveness plan and securing an injunction against a federal rule redefining “sex” to include gender identity, as reported by The Times of India.