Trump Administration’s Deportation Error Puts Family Man in Legal Limbo

Washington, D.C. (AP) — The Trump administration faced mounting criticism Friday after White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller claimed the U.S. government could not forcibly retrieve Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father wrongfully deported to El Salvador due to what officials acknowledged was an “administrative error.” During a press conference, Miller stated, “The view of our administration has been very clear and consistent that this man is a subject and citizen of El Salvador.”

Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old sheet metal worker originally from El Salvador, was deported on March 15, with officials admitting their mistake in the process. He is currently being held in one of El Salvador’s largest prisons, raising concerns among legal advocates and the Supreme Court, which has urged the Trump administration to facilitate his return.

Miller further argued the complexities of Abrego Garcia’s situation, suggesting he may face additional deportation under a previously existing immigration removal order. He stated, “Because he’s a member of a foreign terrorist organization,” asserting that the claim surrounding Abrego Garcia’s previous protections from deportation is now invalid.

The Trump administration labels Abrego Garcia as a member of the gang MS-13, recently designated as a terrorist group; however, Abrego Garcia has never faced criminal charges. He has previously testified about his experiences resisting gang recruitment in El Salvador, which led him to seek refuge in the United States.

Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling demanding the government facilitate his return, Miller maintained that the administration’s hands were tied, alluding to El Salvadoran authorities’ reluctance to relinquish custody of Abrego Garcia.

In a related commentary, former MSNBC host Chris Matthews drew comparisons between the Trump administration’s actions and historical events, likening the forced removal of Abrego Garcia to actions taken during the Holocaust. He stated during an interview on The Jim Acosta Show, “What did Hitler do in the Holocaust? He took people from Germany to other countries where there was no German law.”

Matthews critiqued the lack of legal due process in Abrego Garcia’s deportation and suggested that if still with MSNBC, he would pose direct questions to both the American and El Salvadoran leaders regarding discussions around returning Abrego Garcia to his family.

Both Matthews and Acosta expressed that the ongoing situation appeared deliberately cruel, aimed at deterring future emigrants. “It’s because he wants to humiliate people,” Matthews remarked, further asserting the need for accountability in the treatment of deportees.