Trump and Bukele Unite to Block Efforts to Repatriate Maryland Father from El Salvador

President Donald Trump intensified his clash with the judiciary on Monday during a meeting with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. The two leaders dismissed a court order requiring the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father unlawfully deported to El Salvador.

“Of course I’m not going to do it,” Bukele asserted regarding the potential release of Abrego Garcia from a high-security prison. His response underscores the tension between U.S. judicial orders and foreign policy.

Abrego Garcia was erroneously deported to a notorious megaprison in March. A federal judge directed the Trump administration to rectify this mistake after the Supreme Court mandated efforts to facilitate his return. However, administration officials argue they hold no responsibility in this matter.

The Justice Department outlined its position in a recent statement, indicating the U.S. would accept Abrego Garcia back if he was released from El Salvador. Attorney General Pam Bondi remarked that the administration would provide necessary support, including transportation.

Despite this, the administration has not formally requested Abrego Garcia’s return. Katherine Hawkins, a senior legal analyst at the Project on Government Oversight, pointed out that the lack of action contradicts the court’s directive. “The administration is just sort of blowing off the court’s order,” she noted.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis demanded daily updates on efforts to coordinate Abrego Garcia’s return, yet the Justice Department has resisted sharing information. His attorneys have since urged the judge to hold the government in contempt for its noncompliance. The administration defended its stance based on the Supreme Court’s deference to presidential authority over foreign relations.

A State Department official confirmed that Abrego Garcia remains secure in El Salvador. Trump contradicted government filings, asserting he would comply with the Supreme Court’s directive if it requested Abrego Garcia’s return. This statement raised suspicions among his attorneys regarding the administration’s motives.

The Trump administration has coordinated a $6 million agreement with Bukele’s government for the confinement of U.S. deportees. Although an immigration judge deemed Abrego Garcia ineligible for return due to gang-related fears in El Salvador, the administration maintains its actions stemmed from an administrative error.

On Fox News, senior advisor Stephen Miller contradicted previous claims, insisting Abrego Garcia’s deportation was intentional. His comments have exacerbated concerns over the administration’s legal justification for its actions.

This scrutiny follows acute criticism of the government’s handling of deportations, yet Trump appears undeterred in his support for the megaprison system. During the Oval Office meeting, he suggested the expansion of such facilities in El Salvador.

The ongoing resistance to returning Abrego Garcia further heightens Trump’s conflict with the judiciary. As Judge Xinis prepares to review potential contempt charges, Hawkins highlighted that the current situation exemplifies a constitutional crisis. She asserted that the executive branch’s overreach has gone unchecked, raising questions about the enforcement of legal standards.

“What’s completely gone is any attempt by the executive branch to ensure that laws are executed properly,” she concluded, emphasizing the need for other government branches to respond.