Abrego Garcia attorneys claim Trump administration defied court orders
Attorneys for Kilmar Abrego Garcia have made a bold move in Maryland by asking a judge to sanction Trump officials with severe fines and other penalties for what they claim was a blatant defiance of court orders. The attorneys argued that the Trump administration had misled the court for months by insisting they could not retrieve Abrego Garcia from El Salvador, where he was mistakenly deported in March. However, the administration’s recent decision to bring him back to the United States to face criminal charges in Tennessee exposed their ability to do so all along.
In court documents, Abrego Garcia’s attorneys described the government’s actions as “egregious” and “vocal and sustained and flagrant” defiance of the court’s orders. The Salvadoran man, who had been living in Maryland after entering the country illegally, was abruptly deported to a Salvadoran terrorist prison, prompting his family to sue the Trump administration in March. Despite an immigration judge’s ruling in 2019 that he could be deported, the decision to send him to El Salvador was deemed a mistake.
The Department of Justice initially claimed that they had no control over El Salvador and therefore could not reverse the error. However, Abrego Garcia’s attorneys argued that their client had not been given proper due process. After lower court rulings and orders from the Supreme Court, the Trump administration was instructed to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return to the United States for his case to be handled in accordance with immigration laws.
Despite these orders, the Trump administration continued to delay and resist, citing various privileges and insisting they could not bring Abrego Garcia back. The attorneys pointed to numerous statements made by Trump officials outside of court that indicated their unwillingness to facilitate his return. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi famously stated that Abrego Garcia “is not coming back to our country” and questioned the court’s authority in the matter.
Abrego Garcia’s attorneys have now called for sanctions against the Trump officials involved in the defiance, including hefty fines, civil contempt of court, and repayment of court fees. The case took a new turn on June 6 when the DOJ announced a grand jury indictment against Abrego Garcia, charging him with trafficking illegal immigrants and conspiracy. He made an initial appearance in court in Tennessee, marking his first sighting in the United States since his deportation to El Salvador.
As the legal battle continues, the fate of Abrego Garcia and the implications of the Trump administration’s actions remain uncertain. The case serves as a stark example of the challenges and controversies surrounding immigration policies and due process rights in the United States.
