El Salvador President Nayib Bukele says he will not be returning the Maryland father that the Donald Trump administration admitted to mistakenly deporting to a notorious mega prison, known as CECOT (Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (Terrorism Confinement Center)).
As we previously shared, on March 12, 29-year-old Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was pulled over in an IKEA parking lot and arrested. Abrego Garcia had his 5-year-old son in the car with him as well. According to CNN, in 2019, an immigration judge granted Abrego Garcia protection against deportation back to El Salvador.
Around 2011, Abrego Garcia entered the U.S. illegally from El Salvador. His attorneys said over a decade ago he fled his homeland due to gang violence. Now back in his native land, he faces persecution by local gangs. Despite a previous immigration judge ordering Abrego Garcia’s protection from deportation, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), under Donald Trump, sent the Maryland father back to his native El Salvador on March 15.
On March 31, Donald Trump’s administration finally acknowledged their mistake, calling the incident an “oversight” and “administrative error.” White House officials further argued against bringing him back. They alleged he has ties to the MS-13 gang, which Trump considers a terrorist organization. The White House said it needed proof that he isn’t a terrorist to request him back. But even then, officials continue to claim they had not power to have El Salvador’s government return him.
Supreme Court Upholds Order Demanding Trump Administration Return Man Mistakenly Deported To El Salvador Mega Prison
On April 4, a Barack Obama-appointed federal judge ruled that Donald Trump’s administration must return the Maryland father they mistakenly deported to El Salvador. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, of Maryland, said, “This was an illegal act,” and ordered the U.S. to return the father by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 7. The judge said according to the terms of the agreement between the U.S. and El Salvador, Abrego Garcia can be returned.
Hours before the court-imposed midnight deadline on April 7, the Supreme Court issued a temporary pause. The court agreed to a request from President Donald Trump to stay the order. The stay also gave the justices more time to consider the case. Chief Justice John Roberts granted the “administrative stay.” The temporary pause, which is relatively common when the court is facing a quick deadline, meant that Abrego Garcia would remain at the notorious El Salvador prison until further notice.
On April 10, the Supreme Court upheld Judge Paula Xinis’ order requiring Donald Trump’s administration to return the Maryland Father from the El Salvador mega prison. In an unsigned order, the high court said the U.S. must “facilitate” the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. It also the U.S. must ensure that his case is handled as it should have been before his wrongful deportation.
El Salvador President Won’t Return U.S. Man Mistakenly Deported To Mega Prison
Now, on Monday (April 14), El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele met with Donald Trump and his administration in the White House. At this time, he claims he does not have the power to return the Maryland father, dubbed a terrorist, to the United States.
During the sit-down Trump had Pam Bondi, Marco Rubio, and Stephen Miller slam reporters demanding answers on Abrego Garcia’s court-ordered return. Finally, President Bukele told the press that he had no intentions of returning the man mistakenly deported. He:
“I don’t have the power to return him to the United States. I hope you’re not suggesting that I smuggle a terrorist into the United States. How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? Of course I’m not going to do it. The question is preposterous.”
