El Salvador Refuses to Repatriate Maryland Man Wrongly Deported
Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was seated alongside Trump, stated that the decision to return him lies with the leaders of El Salvador.
TroibNews 
On Monday, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele addressed Kilmar Abrego Garcia's situation during a meeting in the Oval Office, stating that he would not return the Maryland man—who was deported to El Salvador under questionable circumstances—to the United States. This remark came amid vigorous denials from Trump administration officials, who argued they had no authority to compel Bukele’s decision.
“How can I return him to the United States? Am I going to smuggle him? Of course I’m not going to do it,” Bukele said while seated next to President Donald Trump. “The question is preposterous.”
The Supreme Court recently ordered the Trump administration to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return, affirming much of U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis’ previous mandate concerning his "return" to the country.
During the Oval Office meeting, Bukele deferred to his administration team, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, senior adviser Stephen Miller, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to respond to questions about the situation, indicating a coordinated effort to present a unified front. Bondi, sitting close to Trump, stated that the decision to return him lies with El Salvador.
“That’s not up to us,” she asserted, referencing the Supreme Court decision. “If they wanted to return him, we would facilitate it, meaning provide a plane.”
Rubio added that the ruling underscores the executive branch's authority: “The foreign policy of the United States is conducted by the president of the United States, not by a court,” he remarked. “And no court in the United States has a right to conduct the foreign policy of the United States.”
However, the administration's reading of the court's ruling is unlikely to resolve the ongoing legal complexities surrounding Abrego Garcia. Judge Xinis is scheduled to hold another hearing on Tuesday to determine if the administration is complying with her order to assist in facilitating his return. Additionally, the Supreme Court may need to intervene again to clarify the obligations of the United States regarding his status, especially given Bukele's firm stance against his release.
Critics and legal scholars argue that this case establishes a troubling precedent by enabling the executive branch to imprison individuals in foreign countries without due process—particularly as Trump considers the idea of sending U.S. citizens to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center.
“Home-growns are next. The home-growns,” Trump remarked to Bukele. “You gotta build about five more places. It's not big enough.”
The case has gained widespread attention following the Trump administration's announcement last month that it had mistakenly deported Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, which violated a 2019 court ruling that prohibited his deportation due to risks of persecution from local gangs. Although he had been denied asylum previously, Abrego Garcia had been living in Maryland with his wife and children, all U.S. citizens, prior to his deportation.
The Trump administration confirmed on Saturday that Abrego Garcia remains alive but is currently held in El Salvador’s notorious mega-prison.
During the exchange in the Oval Office, Trump criticized CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins for her probing questions about the situation, mocking her "low ratings" and expressing a preference for praise over inquiries about his deportation policies.
While Trump attempted to deflect questions during the meeting, over the weekend he suggested that the U.S. possessed the authority to demand Abrego Garcia's return—a statement that his lawyers have cited in legal motions.
Miller, a key Trump adviser on immigration, stated that the U.S. should refrain from interfering in how El Salvador handles its citizens.
“He’s a citizen of El Salvador, so it’s very arrogant, even for the American media, to suggest that we would even tell El Salvador how to handle their own citizens,” Miller said.
Bukele has emerged as a critical ally for Trump and plays a significant role in Central America as the administration seeks to expedite the deportation of undocumented immigrants. Earlier this year, the Trump administration struck a one-year deal with El Salvador aimed at imprisoning over 200 alleged gang members, shortly after deporting hundreds of Venezuelans to the country on March 15.
So far, the Trump administration has allocated $6 million to Bukele’s government for holding the deportees, with that figure expected to increase.
In March, Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which provides the president with wartime powers to detain and deport noncitizens, to remove Venezuelans he claimed were affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang, along with other immigrants, including Abrego Garcia. Now, officials have indicated plans to send additional noncitizens to the mega-prison.
The Oval Office meeting also coincided with discussions led by former Blackwater CEO Erik Prince, who has proposed targeting “criminal illegal aliens” and designating parts of the controversial prison as U.S. territory, reflecting ongoing efforts to enhance deportations to El Salvador in collaboration with Bukele.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
“How can I return him to the United States? Am I going to smuggle him? Of course I’m not going to do it,” Bukele said while seated next to President Donald Trump. “The question is preposterous.”
The Supreme Court recently ordered the Trump administration to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return, affirming much of U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis’ previous mandate concerning his "return" to the country.
During the Oval Office meeting, Bukele deferred to his administration team, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, senior adviser Stephen Miller, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to respond to questions about the situation, indicating a coordinated effort to present a unified front. Bondi, sitting close to Trump, stated that the decision to return him lies with El Salvador.
“That’s not up to us,” she asserted, referencing the Supreme Court decision. “If they wanted to return him, we would facilitate it, meaning provide a plane.”
Rubio added that the ruling underscores the executive branch's authority: “The foreign policy of the United States is conducted by the president of the United States, not by a court,” he remarked. “And no court in the United States has a right to conduct the foreign policy of the United States.”
However, the administration's reading of the court's ruling is unlikely to resolve the ongoing legal complexities surrounding Abrego Garcia. Judge Xinis is scheduled to hold another hearing on Tuesday to determine if the administration is complying with her order to assist in facilitating his return. Additionally, the Supreme Court may need to intervene again to clarify the obligations of the United States regarding his status, especially given Bukele's firm stance against his release.
Critics and legal scholars argue that this case establishes a troubling precedent by enabling the executive branch to imprison individuals in foreign countries without due process—particularly as Trump considers the idea of sending U.S. citizens to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center.
“Home-growns are next. The home-growns,” Trump remarked to Bukele. “You gotta build about five more places. It's not big enough.”
The case has gained widespread attention following the Trump administration's announcement last month that it had mistakenly deported Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, which violated a 2019 court ruling that prohibited his deportation due to risks of persecution from local gangs. Although he had been denied asylum previously, Abrego Garcia had been living in Maryland with his wife and children, all U.S. citizens, prior to his deportation.
The Trump administration confirmed on Saturday that Abrego Garcia remains alive but is currently held in El Salvador’s notorious mega-prison.
During the exchange in the Oval Office, Trump criticized CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins for her probing questions about the situation, mocking her "low ratings" and expressing a preference for praise over inquiries about his deportation policies.
While Trump attempted to deflect questions during the meeting, over the weekend he suggested that the U.S. possessed the authority to demand Abrego Garcia's return—a statement that his lawyers have cited in legal motions.
Miller, a key Trump adviser on immigration, stated that the U.S. should refrain from interfering in how El Salvador handles its citizens.
“He’s a citizen of El Salvador, so it’s very arrogant, even for the American media, to suggest that we would even tell El Salvador how to handle their own citizens,” Miller said.
Bukele has emerged as a critical ally for Trump and plays a significant role in Central America as the administration seeks to expedite the deportation of undocumented immigrants. Earlier this year, the Trump administration struck a one-year deal with El Salvador aimed at imprisoning over 200 alleged gang members, shortly after deporting hundreds of Venezuelans to the country on March 15.
So far, the Trump administration has allocated $6 million to Bukele’s government for holding the deportees, with that figure expected to increase.
In March, Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which provides the president with wartime powers to detain and deport noncitizens, to remove Venezuelans he claimed were affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang, along with other immigrants, including Abrego Garcia. Now, officials have indicated plans to send additional noncitizens to the mega-prison.
The Oval Office meeting also coincided with discussions led by former Blackwater CEO Erik Prince, who has proposed targeting “criminal illegal aliens” and designating parts of the controversial prison as U.S. territory, reflecting ongoing efforts to enhance deportations to El Salvador in collaboration with Bukele.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
