Federal judge orders testimony over wrongful deportation of Maryland man
A federal judge is demanding sworn testimony from administration officials to determine compliance with court orders regarding the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador.
A federal judge is demanding sworn testimony from administration officials to determine compliance with court orders regarding the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador.
A federal judge is demanding sworn testimony from administration officials to determine compliance with court orders regarding the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador.
A federal judge heard arguments Tuesday over the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man, to El Salvador and will order sworn testimony from administration officials to determine if they are complying with court orders to return Garcia.
U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis issued her order in Maryland after Trump officials continually refused to retrieve Abrego Garcia, saying they had defied a “clear” Supreme Court order.
The Trump administration said they currently are and will comply with all orders issued by the courts, but legal scholars argue the administration has been dragging its feet in a way that borders on defiance.
Clark Neily from the CATO Institute said, "I think we are about as far down the road as we have seen a president go in terms of flirting with the outright defiance of a court order."
The White House admits Garcia was wrongfully deported to a mega-prison in El Salvador. His wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, said, "Kilmar, if you can hear me, stay strong. God hasn't forgotten about you."
However, the White House claims it is El Salvador's decision. President Nayib Bukele said, "I don't have the power to return him to the United States."
Despite a Supreme Court ruling telling the Trump administration to "facilitate" Garcia's return, Muzaffar Chishti from the Migration Policy Institute said, "They had enough wiggle room to say they are not disobeying the federal court judge, but at the same time not bringing the person into the United States."
In Vermont, in another high-profile deportation case of a Tufts University student, Judge William Sessions questioned aloud if he ruled against the administration, would the White House comply or spark a constitutional crisis?
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "We're very confident that every action taken is within the confines of the law, and we continue to comply with the court's orders."
Meanwhile, at the White House on Monday, President Donald Trump told President Nayib Bukele he wants to deport U.S. citizens convicted of violent crimes to El Salvador's notorious mega prison. Trump said, "The homegrowns are next. You've got to build about five more places," and added, "We're studying the laws right now, Pam is studying. If we can do that, that's good."
Clark Neily from the CATO Institute said, "I have no idea what law they're looking at right now, but there certainly are significant constitutional concerns."
Abrego Garcia was living in the United States legally on a work permit before being deported. The Trump administration claims he is part of the MS-13 gang, which his family and lawyers deny.
The president's suggestion to send violent criminals to El Salvador could violate the First Step Act, a criminal justice reform law he signed in 2018, which requires the government to house federal inmates as close to their homes as possible so their families can visit them. The U.S. is paying about $6 million for El Salvador to hold immigrants.
