The stringent immigration policy of President Donald Trump has once again come under the microscope after an acknowledged "administrative error" led to the deportation of a man to a notorious prison in El Salvador.
The Trump administration has been vocal about its aggressive stance against migrants, a cornerstone of Trump's campaign, which it justifies as a measure to curb gang-related violence and other criminal activities.
However, according to Breitbart, the administration's approach has sparked outrage among human rights organizations, Democrats, and even some of Trump's supporters, including prominent podcaster Joe Rogan. Critics argue that several individuals with tenuous or no ties to organized crime have been hastily deported.
The controversy centers around a Salvadoran man who had been residing in Maryland under protected legal status. He was deported to El Salvador in mid-March along with hundreds of alleged gang members, despite a court order to halt the deportations. This move came shortly after Trump invoked the seldom-used Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man in question, was accused of gang affiliation in 2019 but was never convicted of any crime. A judge had previously ruled against his deportation, citing potential harm in El Salvador. In a recent court filing, government attorneys conceded that Garcia's deportation was an "administrative error" but contended that US courts no longer have jurisdiction to secure his release.
The White House remained unyielding when questioned about the matter, asserting that undisclosed evidence identified Abrego Garcia as a "leader of the brutal MS-13 gang." The Trump administration has designated this Salvadoran group, along with others like Venezuela's Tren de Aragua, as "foreign terrorist organizations."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, "Foreign terrorists do not have legal protections in the United States of America anymore and it is within the presidents executive authority and power to deport these heinous individuals from American communities."
The reported deportation of a gay barber has also drawn media attention, with lawyers for several deportees claiming their clients were targeted solely because of their tattoos. Joe Rogan, a Trump supporter, expressed his concern about the potential for innocent individuals to be caught up in the deportation drive.
Rogan stated, "You got to get scared that people who are not criminals are getting lassoed up and deported and sent to El Salvador prisons. Lets get the gang members out. Everybody agrees. But lets not (see) innocent gay hairdressers get lumped up with the gangs."
Vice President JD Vance also commented on the issue, albeit with several clarifications after making errors in his initial posts. He initially referred to Abrego Garcia as a "convicted MS-13 gang member," but later clarified that an immigration judge had "determined" his gang affiliation and that he had received "whatever 'due process' he was entitled to."
The use of the Alien Enemies Act has ignited intense legal debates about migrants' rights to due process and the extent of judicial oversight over executive actions. The Trump administration recently petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn a federal judge's halt on deportations under this authority.
Stephen Miller, Trumps deputy chief of staff and a staunch opponent of illegal immigration, has consistently criticized the judge's actions as a threat to democracy. He stated on social media, "Friendly reminder: If you illegally invaded our country the only process you are entitled to is deportation."
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