Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Apr 7: A US federal judge has issued a blistering rebuke to the Trump administration after immigration officials mistakenly deported a man legally residing in the United States to El Salvador, where he now remains jailed in one of the region’s most notorious prisons.
In a sharply worded 22-page ruling released on Sunday, US District Judge Paula Xinis described the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia as a “grievous error” and a “shocking” violation of federal law. She reaffirmed her earlier order demanding that Garcia be returned to the United States by Monday night.
Garcia, who had been granted protection from deportation by a US immigration judge in 2019, was mistakenly deported in mid-March to the Center for the Confinement of Terrorism (Cecot), El Salvador’s mega-prison known for housing alleged gang members. His lawyer has denied any gang affiliation, asserting that Garcia has no criminal record and was wrongfully included in a group of deportees.
“The defendants had no legal authority to arrest him, no justification to detain him, and no grounds to send him to El Salvador let alone deliver him into one of the most dangerous prisons in the Western Hemisphere,” Judge Xinis wrote, strongly criticising the federal government’s handling of the case.
Despite acknowledging their mistake, Trump administration officials now claim they cannot bring Garcia back as they lack the jurisdiction to remove him from El Salvador’s prison. The Justice Department has appealed the judge's order, with a ruling expected soon.
Meanwhile, Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura a US citizen has been leading efforts to secure his release. The family has condemned the administration’s actions, calling for accountability.
Appearing on Fox News, US Attorney General Pam Bondi insisted Garcia was a member of the MS-13 gang, though she did not provide evidence. Trump, too, appeared to reference the case aboard Air Force One, saying, “He’s in MS-13,” without directly naming Garcia.
Judge Xinis dismissed these claims, stating that no legal justification was ever presented for Garcia’s arrest or deportation. “Surely, defendants do not mean to suggest that they have erased the protections of federal immigration law by dropping individuals into Cecot without recourse,” she wrote.
The controversy intensified after government prosecutor Erez Reuvani who argued the case in court — was placed on leave for failing to adequately defend the administration’s stance. Bondi later criticized Reuvani’s performance, saying, “You have to vigorously argue on behalf of your client.”
The deportation to El Salvador which Trump praised as a potential model for housing American detainees abroad has sparked serious concerns about human rights and the misuse of executive authority.
President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador is scheduled to visit the White House in the coming weeks, where the issue is expected to be discussed.
The case has drawn sharp public and legal scrutiny, raising fresh questions about the Trump administration’s immigration policies and the future of US deportation practices.