Greg Sargent: Trump's Horrifying Removal of Man in "Error" Takes an Even Darker Turn

[Dennis Donovan]

Greg Sargent (archived: https://archive.ph/bLoRi ) Trump’s Horrifying Removal of Man in “Error” Takes an Even Darker Turn

The Trump administration could allow Kilmar Abrego Garcia back into the U.S. and try to deport him through proper channels. So why won’t it even do that?

On Thursday, the Supreme Court issued a simple directive to the U.S. government. Or it would have been simple, anyway, if President Donald Trump weren’t engaged in such rampant lawlessness. The high court said the administration should be prepared to say what steps it has taken to bring back Kilmar Abrego Garcia—the Maryland man whom the government itself admits was deported to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador in “error.”

The government still hasn’t answered that basic question. On Friday, the administration refused to honor a judicial order—delivered by a lower court in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling—to provide a response to it.

Which offers an occasion to step back and underscore a deeply unsettling absurdity about this repugnant story that’s gotten lost in all the legal minutiae. It’s this: All along, the administration has had the option of moving to return Abrego Garcia to the United States and then trying again to deport him via conventional legal processes—which, ironically enough, could result in his removal anyway, in a more lawful manner.

Why hasn’t the government taken that simple step? That question is the bigger, darker one underlying this whole saga.

In its Thursday ruling, the Supreme Court confirmed that Abrego Garcia’s deportation was “illegal.” Abrego Garcia—who was removed to El Salvador in mid-March—had what’s known as “withholding from removal” status, which an immigration judge granted in 2019. This halted a government effort to deport him to El Salvador at that time, as he’d face grave danger there.

/snip

[Walleye]

1. I think the guy was probably killed already. That's why they're being so damn cagey.

[LymphocyteLover]

8. Could well be, but if he's not, he's seen stuff that the administration really doesn't want getting out

to the general public, that he could tell when he's brought home.

[Walleye]

9. Good point I hadn't thought of that. They have to silence him one way or the other.

[intheflow]

14. Telling his whole story to the US media would wreck them.

Kidnapped, shackled by masked thugs. A midnight plane ride with other terrified, innocent men. Arriving in prison in El Salvador, the one country he specifically wasn’t ever to be deported to. Prison conditions in the gulag, and the health and welfare of the other men deported. Not to mention, if they can return one man for a lawful habeas corpus hearing, they can return them ALL. Bringing him back would inspire more dissent, and perhaps truly violent dissent. Because nothing creates terrorists like human rights abuses.

[erronis]

19. Not necessarily. The "media" is pretty much in the bag with this regime.

Of course some independent outlets may get the information and publish it but not the M$M.

[intheflow]

20. Rachel would have him on.

60 Minutes would have him on. And if any major paper could get an exclusive interview, they would most likely jump at the chance.

[Girard442]

2. The TSF regime is within a gnat's whisker of explicitly telling the courts to go pound sand.

You might argue they already have.

[gab13by13]

4. They already have

Should have taken a stand earlier at the CR vote.

[IronLionZion]

18. They have defied court rulings

it's problematic when the executive branch is the one to enforce it on themselves, and choose not to.

I'm surprised the GOP Supreme Court actually ruled on this. The GOP congress has chosen to do nothing to check or balance this administration.

[lamp_shade]

3. Wondering if perhaps he was "disappeared" even before the plane took off for El Salvador.

[SSJVegeta]

16. The reason we even know about him is because his wife saw him in photos of the detainees in El Salvador

I think they recognized him from tattoos.

So at the very least, it's a fair bet he at least made it there alive. No certainty beyond that though. It was an egregious (T)error to say the least.

[NCDem47]

5. Do we even have proof of life at this point?

I'm serious, has ANYONE talked with him since he was snatched in the U.S? Family? Lawyers?

[orangecrush]

10. Nope.

[Ferryboat]

15. Responsibility lies with 1 man

TSF.
If this individual isn't returned alive, involuntary manslaughter should be filed.

Remove him from office and incarnation. No allowance for 1st time offense.

[sop]

6. Trump is digging in his heels on this, he sees the judge's order as a direct challenge to his absolute power.

[Tansy_Gold]

12. This.

And once he has confirmation that he can get away with disappearing one person, he has confidence he can disappear anyone. Legal or illegal, citizen or non-citizen. Anyone. The entire membership of DU. . . . .

[Solly Mack]

7. K&R

[Meowmee]

11. What will happen

I feel terrible for his family 😿 They need to get someone to rescue him/ help him escape.

[Marthe48]

13. I feel like the focus on Mr. Garcia

Probably endangered him further. We have a lawlessness administration hellbent on punishment, defiance and revenge. Putting a media spotlight on Mr. Garcia probably signed his death warrant. I hope I'm wrong, but the criminals running the show get off on suffering and they have no qualms about sinking lower and lower.

[IronLionZion]

17. How hard is it to just ask El Salvador to release him from prison and put him on a plane back to the US?

They did it for the rapist Tate brothers.

[bluestarone]

21. Well, we finally get very close to can TSF kill somebody on 5th ave.

I think he DID already. Plus with all his federal rules, he's killing people EVERYDAY for the next four years.

[Blue Full Moon]

22. This image

https://bsky.app/profile/triagnaloid.bsky.social/post/3lmkwot2jwc2y
I did send to Snopes to check it out. Couldn't find anything to say it was a hoax.