Salvadoran National Kilmar Ábrego GarcÍa, a 29-year-old Maryland resident, was illegally deported back to an El Salvadorian prison recently, sparking concern among immigrant communities about the fate of themselves and their families.
Ábrego GarcÍa left behind both his wife and kids who were born U.S. citizens. He was sent to a mega jail, which holds both Venezuelan and Salvadorian gang members. Ábrego GarcÍa, an alleged former gang member of the notoriously violent MS-13, sought refuge in the U.S. after his 2019 arrest, where he was arrested with two other men linked to MS-13.
He was granted protection from deportation, as it was feared he would face persecution from MS-13 after his arrest. Ábrego GarcÍa was not found guilty on any charges, and two judges ruled that he was not a part of MS-13.
“The administration made a mistake,” academic coach Francisco Gomez said. “It would have been as simple as, okay, let's send him back here, but yet they are not. I guess the word is disgusting. They are dealing with a human being that has a family, and they just don't care. They don't care.”
Court orders on file stated that Ábrego GarcÍa was to not be deported; however, the Trump administration made the executive and unlawful decision to deport him anyways. Following Ábrego GarcÍa’s deportation, the Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to “facilitate” him back to the U.S.
"The United States acknowledges that Ábrego GarcÍa was subject to a withholding order forbidding his removal to El Salvador, and that the removal to El Salvador was therefore illegal," the Supreme Court stated in its ruling.
However, the Trump administration has made no move to bring him back.
“I think it is despicable, and the fact that our president said out loud that he could do something about it but wouldn’t, I think is even grosser since he is an American citizen and deserves to be here,” Spanish teacher Christian Littell said.
Following the backlash of the administration's error, the White House Press Secretary made comments about what Ábrego GarcÍa was wearing when arrested, stating he was wearing “a sweatshirt with rolls of money covering the ears, mouth and eyes of presidents, [a] known MS-13 gang symbol."
The Trump administration also followed up by bringing up Ábrego GarcÍa’s past domestic dispute where his wife Jennnifer Vazquez Sura filed for a restraining order after reported domestic abuse took place. Vazquez Sura later retracted the restraining order, telling the media the situation was resolved.
The Trump administration insisted that the deportation was not an “administrative error” and rather that they had the right to send migrants to the Salvadoran prison CECOT.
A three-judge Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals panel wrote, "The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order."
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen also visited Ábrego GarcÍa in order to help advocate for his release.
“I think it’s wonderful that Maryland’s state reps are there in El Salvador working day after day to try and get him out,” Littell said. “Our president has the power to get him back here right now if he really wanted to, and it’s a shame that he doesn’t use it.”
This is not the only case of improper procedure by immigration officers. Immigration officers and President Trump have recently asked U.S. citizens to leave the country, in return for money and paid travel, to avoid being detained and deported. This, to many, feels like the Trump administration does not care about its residents.
Many immigrants have felt like they are being preyed upon by politicians as a way to make a political move.
“I think people are upset right now, and they want to take their anger out on anyone they can,” Littell said. “Immigrants are an easy target because it is hard for them to speak for themselves because most of them don't speak English. I think they are an easy target for bullies and for people who have something they want to gain out of it.”
On the east side of Indy, many families are living in the U.S. who, despite not being born here, are U.S. citizens. It is recommended that U.S. citizens being contacted by immigration officers should get an immigration attorney.
“I’m not going to lie, I'm scared,” Gomez said. “I'm scared for me even though I am a citizen, I'm scared for my dad who is a resident. I am going to Mexico in July, and I haven't done anything wrong but yet it is a little scary that this happened to him and other people.”
In these situations it is very important to know one’s rights as well, knowing what is legally allowed and not allowed in order to prevent further questioning.
“It’s just inhumane, very inhumane,” Gomez said. “A lot of what this administration is doing, not just with him but with everyone, is disgusting. It makes me very angry.”