A federal judge has criticized the Trump administration for failing to comply with a court order to facilitate the return of Kilmar Ábrego García, a man who was wrongly deported to El Salvador despite legal residency in the US for nearly 25 years. The administration claimed it was powerless to force his return, but the judge has ordered the justice department to prove its efforts to comply with the court order. The judge is now evaluating whether officials are in contempt of court for failing to facilitate Ábrego García’s return.
The case has become a significant standoff between the White House and the judiciary, with the judge refuting the administration’s actions, including holding a news conference with the Salvadoran president that did not comply with the court order. The judge has also rejected the administration’s interpretation of “facilitate” as only removing domestic barriers for Ábrego García, ruling that they must secure his release.
This case comes amidst a series of executive orders issued by Trump on various issues, including cracking down on social security fraud and allowing certain coal-fired power plants exemptions from regulations. The Trump administration’s actions in this case and others have raised concerns over potential defiance of court orders and threats to established legal procedures. The judge will consider the next steps in this case, highlighting the ongoing challenges between the administration and the judiciary.
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