White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt faces mounting criticism over a controversial deportation case involving a Maryland resident mistakenly sent to El Salvador.
According to Daily Mail, the Trump administration admitted in a court filing that ICE deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a notorious El Salvadoran prison despite a judge's standing order, attributing the error to an "administrative mistake."
The controversy intensified when Leavitt defended the deportation during a Tuesday press briefing, dismissing it as a mere clerical error while insisting that Abrego Garcia was a leader of the MS-13 gang. She maintained the administration's position that he would not be returning to the United States, despite lacking concrete evidence of his alleged gang affiliations.
Government officials clash over deportation evidence
Vice President JD Vance entered the fray by incorrectly referring to Abrego Garcia as a "convicted" gang member on social media. This claim was quickly challenged by Politico reporter Kyle Cheney, who pointed out that the court filing contained no evidence of such a conviction.
The government's court documents revealed that Abrego Garcia's gang label originated from a 2019 incident in a Home Depot parking lot. During this encounter, another detained individual allegedly identified him as a gang member without providing substantiating evidence.
Leavitt further complicated matters by claiming the administration possessed "credible intelligence" proving Abrego Garcia's involvement in human trafficking. However, these claims were not supported by documentation in the court filing.
Legal battle unfolds over deportation authority
Abrego Garcia, who is married to a U.S. citizen and has a five-year-old child, is now suing the Trump administration over his illegal removal. His case highlights significant discrepancies in the administration's initial statements about the deportations.
The White House originally claimed that approximately 300 deportees were Venezuelan members of the Tren de Argua gang. This narrative fell apart when it became clear that Abrego Garcia is Salvadoran and has no proven connections to either criminal organization.
White House Press Secretary Leavitt stated:
The error that you are referring to was a clerical error. It was an administrative error. The administration maintains the position that this individual who was deported to El Salvador and will not be returning to our country was a member of the brutal and vicious MS-13 gang. We also have credible intelligence proving that this individual was involved in human trafficking.
Growing controversy sparks political debate
Former Obama administration cabinet member Julian Castro condemned the deportation, characterizing it as part of a pattern of deliberate violations of due process. His criticism reflects growing concern over the administration's approach to immigration enforcement.
The case has drawn attention to the Trump administration's use of a wartime law to expedite deportations of alleged gang members. This controversial measure allows for removals without standard legal proceedings.
Legal experts have noted that several judges have already ruled such flights to Venezuela violated deportees' rights, regardless of their alleged gang affiliations. This raises serious questions about the legality of Abrego Garcia's deportation.
A legal battle ahead
The Trump administration faces significant legal challenges over Kilmar Abrego Garcia's deportation to El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison. The case centers on an admitted administrative error that led to the removal of a Maryland resident who held protected status under a judge's order. The controversy has evolved into a broader dispute about immigration enforcement practices, with White House officials defending the deportation despite lacking evidence for their claims about Abrego Garcia's alleged gang connections. As legal proceedings continue, the administration maintains he will not return to the United States, while his lawyers demand his immediate repatriation.
