Abrego Garcia, the Tip of the spear for Trump’s assault on the foundations of our democracy, and the case of a notorious Salvadoran prisoner

An immigration judge granted Abrego Garcia a withholding of removal in 2019, meaning that although he did enter the country illegally, the U.S. could not deport him to El Salvador.

During Bukele’s Oval Office visit on Monday, Trump and his team said it was up to the Salvadoran government to decide whether to return him. Bukele said he would not do that.

Attorney General Pam Bondi stated in a meeting with the president that the administration’s obligation was only to provide a plane, but that Abrego was now in custody.

The Government should at least be required to request AbregoGarcia’s release, according to his lawyers, who have not done so yet.

“All of this is a reminder why immigration is the tip of the spear for Trump’s larger assault on key pillars of our democracy and why what’s at stake should alarm Americans of all political persuasions,” she added.

A judge in Maryland wants to find out if government officials acted in bad faith in the case of Kilmar Abrego Gonzalez, who was sent to a notorious Salvadoran prison.

Judge Paula Xinis on Tuesday called for a two-week process of “expedited discovery,” including questioning government officials under oath, to learn whether the government is doing enough to try to bring him back.

“It is clear now that every day he is in jail is a day of irreparable harm,” she said from the bench. We have to give process to both sides but we are going to move. No tolerance for gamesmanship and grandstanding.”

The case of Abrego Garcia: a violation of the First Amendment and a resolution of the embassy’s press conference in the Oval Office

Lawyers for the Justice Department and those representing Abrego Garcia have one week to conduct depositions of Joseph Mazzara, the acting general counsel at the Department of Homeland Security, as well as of acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office director Robert Cerna, and of other officials who have filed declarations before the court.

A courtroom appearance is scheduled for Abrego, who told reporters on Monday that he isn’t going to smuggle a terrorist into the United States.

The U.S. government has accused Abrego Garcia of being a member of the MS-13 gang, which the Trump administration has since designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Abrego’s lawyers say that he isn’t a member of the gang and doesn’t have a criminal record.

The DOJ also filed a transcript of Monday’s press conference in the Oval Office. The transcript provided by Drew Ensign showed that the government was attempting to facilitate Abrego’s return, as well as raising the issue at the highest level.

If Abrego was wrongly sent to the U.S., whether the White House is doing anything to release him or not, the case would have taken it’s rightful place in the U.S.

“If I find myself in contempt, that’s based on the record before me,” she said. “No, I don’t consider the transcript you gave me to be answering the question.”

The White House Press Secretary said on Tuesday that they were confident that every action taken by the administration was within the confines of the law.

The Supreme Court said the judge must clarify her decision because it owed to the executive branch of the government deference in foreign affairs.

Several administration officials argued that it was up to the locals to decide if AbregoGarcia is returned.

“If they [El Salvador] wanted to return him, we would facilitate it – meaning provide a plane,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said during the Oval Office press conference.