Trump claims he's ‘not defying the Supreme Court’ during dispute about improperly deported individual
Trump’s commitment to honor the judiciary is at odds with growing worries regarding his administration's adherence to court directives.
TroibNews 
President Donald Trump asserted that he is not defying a Supreme Court ruling to "facilitate" the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was wrongly deported to El Salvador. This comes as his administration continues to resist efforts to bring the Salvadoran native back to the United States.
The Trump administration has remained firm on the matter of Abrego Garcia, turning the case into a significant aspect of its broader immigration enforcement policies. Despite the Supreme Court’s directive for the government to "facilitate" his return, the administration has consistently evaded moves to reinstate him in the United States following his unlawful deportation. Instead, they maintain that their obligation is strictly to permit his re-entry if Salvadoran authorities choose to release him.
“I'm not defying the Supreme Court,” Trump mentioned in an interview with TIME Magazine conducted on Tuesday. “I never defy the Supreme Court. I wouldn't do that. I'm a big believer in the Supreme Court, and have a lot of respect for the justices.”
Democrats and legal experts have united in support of Abrego Garcia’s case, labeling it a significant constitutional crisis that threatens due process rights. Recently, Senator Chris Van Hollen visited El Salvador to meet with Abrego Garcia.
When questioned about the Supreme Court ruling, Trump indicated that he trusts his legal team to handle the situation and felt confident that he was complying with the court’s directives.
“I leave that to my lawyers,” he stated. “I give them no instructions. They feel that the order said something very much different from what you're saying … If they want — and that would be the attorney general of the United States and the people that represent the country. I don't make that decision.”
Abrego Garcia, who was living in Maryland, was deported last month to El Salvador even though a prior court ruling indicated that he could not be sent back due to fears of persecution. He was among over 200 individuals from Venezuela and El Salvador whom the Trump administration accused of having gang affiliations when the president invoked the Alien Enemies Act in March. A federal judge has described the evidence regarding Abrego Garcia’s supposed gang membership as weak.
In addition to Abrego Garcia’s situation, the Supreme Court recently prevented the Trump administration from deporting a second group of Venezuelan immigrants under the same Alien Enemies Act.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated earlier this month that Abrego Garcia is “not coming back” to the United States. When pressed on whether Abrego Garcia should be granted his day in court, Trump replied that “bringing him back and retrying him wouldn't bother” him.
Trump noted that he has not directly requested Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele — who has labeled Abrego Garcia a “terrorist” — to assist in his return. “I haven’t asked him positively, but he said he wouldn’t,” Trump said.
Despite his criticisms of federal judges who have paused several immigration orders from his administration, Trump claimed he would abide by lower court rulings.
On Tuesday, the U.S. district judge overseeing Abrego Garcia’s case accused the Trump administration of attempting to “obstruct” efforts to provide information on the circumstances of Abrego Garcia’s deportation, asserting that the administration was misinterpreting the Supreme Court ruling.
“That Order made clear that this Court ‘properly required the Government to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador,’” wrote Judge Paula Xinis.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
The Trump administration has remained firm on the matter of Abrego Garcia, turning the case into a significant aspect of its broader immigration enforcement policies. Despite the Supreme Court’s directive for the government to "facilitate" his return, the administration has consistently evaded moves to reinstate him in the United States following his unlawful deportation. Instead, they maintain that their obligation is strictly to permit his re-entry if Salvadoran authorities choose to release him.
“I'm not defying the Supreme Court,” Trump mentioned in an interview with TIME Magazine conducted on Tuesday. “I never defy the Supreme Court. I wouldn't do that. I'm a big believer in the Supreme Court, and have a lot of respect for the justices.”
Democrats and legal experts have united in support of Abrego Garcia’s case, labeling it a significant constitutional crisis that threatens due process rights. Recently, Senator Chris Van Hollen visited El Salvador to meet with Abrego Garcia.
When questioned about the Supreme Court ruling, Trump indicated that he trusts his legal team to handle the situation and felt confident that he was complying with the court’s directives.
“I leave that to my lawyers,” he stated. “I give them no instructions. They feel that the order said something very much different from what you're saying … If they want — and that would be the attorney general of the United States and the people that represent the country. I don't make that decision.”
Abrego Garcia, who was living in Maryland, was deported last month to El Salvador even though a prior court ruling indicated that he could not be sent back due to fears of persecution. He was among over 200 individuals from Venezuela and El Salvador whom the Trump administration accused of having gang affiliations when the president invoked the Alien Enemies Act in March. A federal judge has described the evidence regarding Abrego Garcia’s supposed gang membership as weak.
In addition to Abrego Garcia’s situation, the Supreme Court recently prevented the Trump administration from deporting a second group of Venezuelan immigrants under the same Alien Enemies Act.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated earlier this month that Abrego Garcia is “not coming back” to the United States. When pressed on whether Abrego Garcia should be granted his day in court, Trump replied that “bringing him back and retrying him wouldn't bother” him.
Trump noted that he has not directly requested Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele — who has labeled Abrego Garcia a “terrorist” — to assist in his return. “I haven’t asked him positively, but he said he wouldn’t,” Trump said.
Despite his criticisms of federal judges who have paused several immigration orders from his administration, Trump claimed he would abide by lower court rulings.
On Tuesday, the U.S. district judge overseeing Abrego Garcia’s case accused the Trump administration of attempting to “obstruct” efforts to provide information on the circumstances of Abrego Garcia’s deportation, asserting that the administration was misinterpreting the Supreme Court ruling.
“That Order made clear that this Court ‘properly required the Government to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador,’” wrote Judge Paula Xinis.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
