A CNN interview featuring the Trump administration border czar Tom Homan and host Kaitlan Collins ignited a fierce debate regarding the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 gang member.
The controversy centers on the legality and ethical implications of the deportation, given conflicting court rulings and evolving security conditions in El Salvador.
Abrego Garcia, who illegally entered the United States in 2011, was identified by the Trump administration as a member of the violent transnational gang MS-13. This designation, supported by two separate court rulings, led to his classification as both an illegal alien and a foreign terrorist.
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In 2019, an immigration judge granted Abrego Garcia the right to remain in Maryland, citing concerns for his safety if returned to El Salvador. However, the Trump administration proceeded with the deportation, arguing that conditions in El Salvador had drastically changed under President Nayib Bukele’s crackdown on gang violence, effectively dismantling MS-13 within the country.
The situation was further complicated by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which directed the administration to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S. following pressure from lower courts. However, El Salvador has refused to comply, with President Bukele publicly stating he will not allow Abrego Garcia to return.
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During the CNN interview, Collins questioned Homan about the administration’s responsibility in cases where individuals are deported despite prior court rulings. She cited the 2019 immigration judge’s decision as evidence that the deportation was improper.
“What would you say to those who worry that the stance of this administration is that if someone is deported by accident, they have no responsibility once they’re in the custody of a foreign government?” Collins asked.
Homan responded by emphasizing that Abrego Garcia is currently in the custody of El Salvador, an El Salvadoran national, and that President Bukele has made it clear he will not release him. He also reiterated that the Department of Justice is handling the ongoing legal battle.
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Collins pressed further, stating, “Even though it was an immigration judge that said the one place he can’t go is El Salvador, he could have been deported literally anywhere else…”
Homan countered, “We can’t go back and back… That was years ago, the country was different. That gang no longer exists in El Salvador.”
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