President Trump stated on Tuesday that while he could help facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador last month, he suggested he would not do so. In an interview with ABC News’ Terry Moran, Trump was asked about Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man who had been living in Maryland under a protective order before being sent to one of El Salvador’s most notorious prisons. When Moran suggested that Trump could personally contact the president of El Salvador to have Garcia returned, Trump responded, “I could,” but added, “If he were the gentleman that you say he is, I would do that, but he’s not.”
The Trump administration admitted in court filings that Abrego Garcia’s deportation was an “administrative error,” but has resisted a Supreme Court order to facilitate his return. Trump criticized the Justice Department lawyer who acknowledged the mistake, claiming the lawyer should not have made that statement and had been appointed before his administration. The administration has suspended the lawyer.
The White House maintains that it is up to El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, to decide whether to send Abrego Garcia back to the U.S.
Democrats have criticized the administration’s stance and raised concerns over its handling of the situation, with some lawmakers traveling to El Salvador to meet with Garcia.
