President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice on Tuesday opposed the release of a migrant it already acknowledged was wrongly deported to El Salvador, and accused a magistrate judge of committing a “clear error.”
In March, Kilmar Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported to the country despite a 2019 court order barring his removal due to fear of persecution. He was imprisoned without trial in a notorious maximum security prison and was subsequently criticized as an “administrative error.” The Supreme Court delivered a confusing order that the government must “facilitate” his return.
On Tuesday, the Trump administration argued that the magistrate judgeerred by rejecting established precedent. The government said she misinterpreted the word “involves” regarding a youth when she wrongly denied a detention hearing.