During a heated interview marking his first 100 days in office, President Donald Trump suggested that he “could” bring back Kilmar Ábrego García, a Salvadoran national detained in El Salvador, despite ongoing legal challenges surrounding the case.
Background: The Ábrego García Case
Kilmar Ábrego García, a Maryland father, was erroneously deported to El Salvador by U.S. authorities, even though he had long been a U.S. resident. His deportation contradicts a Supreme Court ruling that mandated the return of the father to the U.S. after his wrongful expulsion. Despite this ruling, the Trump administration has failed to comply with the court’s orders, prompting significant controversy.
Ábrego García, who has never been convicted of any gang-related crimes, was mistakenly identified as a member of the violent MS-13 gang, leading to his detention in El Salvador. In a tense exchange with ABC News’ Terry Moran, President Trump was pressed on the administration’s failure to follow the court’s directive to return Ábrego García to the U.S.
The Interview: Trump’s Remarks
In the interview, which aired Tuesday evening, Moran asked Trump why his administration had not complied with the Supreme Court’s ruling. Trump responded by repeatedly labeling Ábrego García as an MS-13 gang member, despite the lack of evidence linking him to such activity.
“This is a MS-13 gang member,” Trump said. “A tough cookie, been in lots of skirmishes, beat the hell out of his wife, and the wife was petrified to talk about him.” The President was referring to a protective order filed by Ábrego García’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, who claimed in 2021 that she sought the order after a domestic dispute. However, it’s important to note that Ábrego García has never been convicted of any gang-related crime or violence.
Moran, focusing on the legal aspects of the case, pointed out that the issue at hand wasn’t whether Ábrego García was a criminal, but whether the administration was abiding by the court’s decision. “You could get him back,” Moran said, pressing Trump to take action.
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Trump’s Response: Deflecting Accountability
“I could,” Trump replied, acknowledging that he technically had the power to bring Ábrego García back to the U.S. But the President added that he had not personally reached out to El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, to request the return of Ábrego García.
Instead, Trump suggested that his administration’s lawyers were the ones preventing the action. “The lawyers don’t want to do this,” Trump said. He continued, “If I were the president that just wanted to do anything, I’d probably keep him where he is.”
Moran countered by reminding the President that as the leader of the country, he ultimately had the authority to make such a decision. Despite the ongoing legal battle, Trump maintained that his administration was simply following the law.
Disputed Claims and Controversial Remarks
Throughout the interview, Trump made several controversial remarks regarding Ábrego García’s alleged gang affiliations. The President claimed that Ábrego García had “MS-13 on his knuckles,” referencing a tattoo that Trump said proved the man’s gang ties. However, this claim has been widely questioned.
When Moran raised doubts about the authenticity of a photo showing Ábrego García’s tattoo, suggesting that it may have been doctored, Trump rejected the criticism. “That was Photoshop,” Moran said, but Trump insisted the image was legitimate, further fueling the dispute over the case.
The Broader Implications
The case of Kilmar Ábrego García highlights the broader ongoing tension between U.S. immigration policies and the legal rights of foreign nationals residing in the country. Despite a ruling by the Supreme Court ordering the return of Ábrego García, the Trump administration’s handling of the case has drawn criticism from both legal experts and human rights advocates.
While President Trump maintains that the U.S. is following the law, the question remains whether his administration will ultimately comply with the high court’s ruling. For now, the fate of Kilmar Ábrego García remains uncertain as legal challenges continue to unfold.
