El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele firmly rejected U.S. demands to return Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant with alleged ties to the notorious MS-13 gang. The dispute centers on Garcia’s deportation and subsequent legal battles, highlighting the complex intersection of immigration law and international relations.
The Trump administration has argued that Garcia, deported in March following a clerical error by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), poses a significant threat due to his alleged gang affiliation.
They cite documentation from the Prince George’s County Police Department detailing Garcia’s purported role within MS-13. However, Bukele refuted the U.S. request, stating he would not “smuggle” a foreign terrorist into the United States.
READ: U.S., El Salvador Push Back Against Media Narrative In MS-13 Deportation Case
“I suppose you’re suggesting that I smuggle a terrorist into the United States,” Bukele told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins in the Oval Office. “How can I smuggle, how can I return him to the United States, like I smuggle him into the United States? Of course, I’m not going to do it. I mean, the question is preposterous. How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? I don’t have the power to return him to the United States. We’re not very fond of releasing terrorists into our country. But you just turned the murder capital of the world into the safest country of the Western Hemisphere, and you want us to go back to releasing criminals so we can go back to being the murder capital of the world? That’s not gonna happen.”
Garcia, who entered the U.S. unlawfully in 2011, had previously been granted “withholding of removal” status by a judge in October 2019, citing potential persecution if he returned to El Salvador. He had settled in Maryland, married a U.S. citizen, and has one child.
READ: Gun Rights Group Urges Federal Task Force To Target 12 Stricter State’s Gun Laws
The legal battle escalated as the Trump administration challenged a ruling by U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, who ordered Garcia’s return. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily halted the order, stating the U.S. cannot compel El Salvador to comply with a federal judge’s directive.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court directed a lower court to clarify its order, suggesting that the U.S. government should “facilitate” Garcia’s return while respecting the executive branch’s authority in foreign affairs.
“The District Court should clarify its directive, with due regard for the deference owed to the Executive Branch in the conduct of foreign affairs,” the order stated. “For its part, the Government should be prepared to share what it can concerning the steps it has taken and the prospect of further steps.”
READ: Nuclear Showdown: Iran Talks Set For Easter In Rome Amid Rising Tensions
Adding to the complexity, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller stated that even if El Salvador were to return Garcia, he would be placed back into ICE custody and deported to a different country. Miller also argued that the 2019 withholding order is invalid due to Garcia’s alleged membership in a foreign terrorist organization.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
