Donald Trump has responded to growing scrutiny surrounding the wrongful deportation of a father to one of the most dangerous prisons in the world due to an administrative mistake.
Over 250 individuals accused of criminal activity in the United States were deported last month to El Salvador’s massive Center for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT), a facility infamous for housing violent gang members and convicted killers. With a capacity of up to 40,000 inmates, CECOT is the largest prison in the Americas.
The deportations were authorized under the Trump administration, which alleged many of the individuals had ties to criminal organizations like the Tren de Aragua and MS-13. However, officials later admitted a serious error had been made in the case of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who had legal protection from deportation.
Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national, had been granted protected status by a U.S. immigration judge in 2019, legally barring his removal. Despite this, he was mistakenly deported as part of the broader operation. Efforts to return him to the U.S. have faced legal and diplomatic challenges.
Friends, family, and immigration advocates have since been campaigning for his release and return. The matter escalated to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled unanimously (9-0) on April 10 that the government must “facilitate and effectuate” his release from Salvadoran custody and ensure that his legal case proceeds as it would have if the deportation had not occurred.
Senator Chris Van Hollen even traveled to El Salvador to meet with Abrego Garcia, showing support for his return.
In a recent interview with TIME, President Trump was asked directly whether he was complying with the Supreme Court’s order. When confronted with a quote from the ruling, Trump replied curtly:
“That’s up to my lawyers. I don’t direct them. They interpret the ruling differently from how you’re presenting it. It’s not my call.”
When asked if he had spoken with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele about releasing Abrego Garcia, Trump responded, “No, and Bukele said he wouldn’t. No one’s asked me to ask him — except you.”
Attorneys representing Abrego Garcia say he fled gang violence over a decade ago, but he was detained by ICE in March due to claims of involvement with MS-13. According to a court filing, officials alleged he had a significant role in the gang — a claim the legal team disputes.
When asked whether the man deserves to appear in court, Trump cast doubt on his innocence:
“He’s not a saint. He’s got a history. He’s got MS-13 tattooed on his knuckles. So no — this isn’t just some innocent guy from Maryland, like some people — and the fake news — led us to believe.”
Nevertheless, Trump conceded that a retrial in the U.S. wouldn’t bother him personally, but emphasized again that the decision is now entirely in the hands of his legal advisors.