On April 16, 2025, during a White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sharply criticized a federal judge for his ruling requiring the Trump administration to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man wrongly deported to El Salvador, to the United States. Leavitt argued that the judge had no jurisdiction over El Salvador and asserted that Garcia would never be allowed to return to the United States. The response sparked debate about judicial and executive powers in immigration policy .
Background of the incident
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a citizen of El Salvador, was arrested in Maryland in March 2025 after leaving work to pick up his son. Authorities allege he is a member of the MS-13 gang, but his lawyers claim he was deported due to an “administrative error.” After his deportation, Garcia was held at CECOT, a notorious prison in El Salvador. Judge Paula Xinis’s ruling requires the Trump administration to return Garcia to the United States, but the administration has resisted and failed to comply .Wikipedia+5Mediaite+5El Salvador News+5Lib Fails+1People.com+1
Karoline Leavitt’s reaction
During the press conference, Leavitt criticized Judge Xinis’s ruling and argued that she had no jurisdiction over El Salvador. Leavitt asserted that Garcia would never be allowed to return to the United States and accused the judges of interfering with the administration’s immigration policy. The statement sparked controversy and raised questions about the power of the branches of government to monitor each other’s actions .Latest news & breaking headlines+3Lib Fails+3El Salvador News+3
Reaction from other officials and organizations
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who traveled to El Salvador to meet with Garcia, criticized the Trump administration and said the case reflected the administration’s disregard for the power of the courts.
He also said Garcia had been transferred to another prison and was in poor health. Meanwhile, El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has rejected the U.S. request and insisted Garcia will remain in El Salvador’s custody .AP News+2AP News+2The Guardian+2Wikipedia+1AP News+1
Impact and significance
The case highlights the tension between executive and judicial powers in U.S. immigration policy. It also raises questions about the power of the courts to monitor government actions against citizens and legal residents. Garcia’s case has drawn public and human rights attention, and has heightened political divisions over how immigration law is enforced and the rights of individuals in the legal system .
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