During an interview on Tuesday with ABC News, Donald Trump said that “he could” make a phone call to the president of El Salvador and secure the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was detained and then placed on a plane to El Salvador last month. Trump’s administration later called Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation an “administrative error.” The government is now battling a court order instructing it to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return.
Abrego Garcia Remains in El Salvador
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was deported despite a 2019 ruling that banned him from being sent to El Salvador. Trump’s administration has repeatedly said that it was up to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to decide if Abrego Garcia is released, but Bukele says he does not have the power to do that.
“You could get him back. There’s a phone on this desk,” ABC News’ journalist Terry Moran said during the interview. “I could,” Trump replied. When Moran suggested again that Trump could simply call President Bukele and ask for Abrego Garcia’s return, Trump replied with, “If he (Abrego Garcia) were the gentleman that you say he is, I would do that, but he’s not.”
Trump Claims Decision Isn’t His
Trump then added that he was “not the one making this decision.” He added that his attorneys warned him not to make that call. He also argued that he was following the law. Further on in the interview, Trump referred to Abrego Garcia as an “MS-13 gang member, a tough cookie.” He then alleged that Abrego Garcia had “beat the hell out of his wife.”
The Trump administration has repeatedly referred to Kilmar Abrego Garcia as a gang member. Both Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s attorney and his family have denied that he has ever been charged with any type of crime. Back in 2021, Abrego Garcia’s wife did accuse him of domestic violence and was granted a temporary restraining order. She has recently told members of the media that the situation did not escalate and she did not proceed with any charges.
Time Magazine Interview
During an interview with TIME Magazine, Trump was asked if he had called Bukele to discuss Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s release, and he said, “I haven‘t asked him positively, but he said he wouldn’t.”
In 2011, Abrego Garcia entered the U.S. illegally at the age of 16. Last month, he was arrested and flown to El Salvador. Aboard the plane, he was surrounded by hundreds of fellow migrants who had all been accused of being gang members.
A judge had granted Abrego Garcia “withholding of removal” status years ago. Trump and his administration have called his deportation an “administrative error” but have taken no steps to rectify it.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia Order
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to “facilitate” Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s release. Instead of complying, the Trump administration is fighting the order. Since taking office for his second term, the Trump administration has used the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to remove hundreds of migrants from the U.S.
No Due Process
Advocates have repeatedly pointed out that the process lacks due process. The Supreme Court ruled that any migrant facing removal by the use of the Alien Enemies Act must be given a judicial review.
During the ABC News interview, Trump was asked whether any of the migrants facing deportation had received due process. Trump claimed, “We follow the legal process,” but he went on to argue that it would not be practical to give everyone a trial. “If people come into our country illegally, there’s a different standard,” Trump said.
