Abrego Garcia Judge Expresses Frustration Over US’s Silenced Response: A Call for Accountability

A federal judge expressed mounting frustration on Friday regarding the Trump administration’s inability to clarify its efforts to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident erroneously deported to El Salvador. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis hosted a hearing to question Justice Department attorneys about whether they could invoke legal privileges to avoid addressing critical inquiries about Abrego Garcia’s repatriation.

Judge Xinis is urging President Trump’s administration to adhere to a U.S. Supreme Court order from April 10, which mandates the facilitation of Abrego Garcia’s return. She has highlighted her ongoing dissatisfaction over the government’s inaction, viewing this case as emblematic of the administration’s disregard for judicial authority amid widespread deportations.

Immigration officials acknowledged that Abrego Garcia was wrongfully deported on March 15. However, claims from Trump and senior advisors suggest they cannot bring him back due to asserted “state secrets” and “deliberative process” privileges, which they argue limit their obligation to answer inquiries posed by his legal team.

During the hearing, Judge Xinis pointed out deficiencies in the depositions provided by the Department of Homeland Security, stating they did not adequately respond to her requests concerning the efforts to return Abrego Garcia. “You can’t tell me that the depositions that I read are a good-faith effort,” Xinis remarked during proceedings held in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Moreover, she noted that the government failed to supply sufficient information regarding its invocation of state secrets privilege, preventing her from assessing any potential risks to foreign affairs. “I have to have something to review,” she asserted, emphasizing that the executive branch should not have arbitrary power over evidence presented in court.

Justice Department attorney Jonathan Guynn contended that the government had sufficiently addressed all judicial inquiries. However, Abrego Garcia’s lawyer, Andrew Rossman, countered, stating that there is “zero evidence” in the record showing compliance with the court’s directives. “A life is in the balance,” Rossman emphasized, highlighting the stakes involved.

After more than two hours of public debate, Judge Xinis entered a closed session with the attorneys to deliberate on confidential issues raised by the government. An order outlining next steps in the case is expected to follow.

The judge had previously paused the case on April 23 after the Trump administration claimed it was engaging in “appropriate diplomatic discussions” with El Salvador concerning Abrego Garcia. This marked a notable shift in position, as both Trump and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele had earlier asserted they lacked the authority to return him to the U.S. Trump later indicated in an NBC interview on May 4 that while he possessed the power to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return, he would refrain from doing so based on his advisers’ guidance.

Abrego Garcia was deported despite a 2019 court ruling preventing his return to his native country. The administration’s stance alleges that he is an MS-13 gang affiliate deemed dangerous, although he has not been charged with any crimes and denies gang membership. Initially held in El Salvador’s infamous Terrorism Confinement Center, he has since been relocated to another facility.

Judge Xinis had given the U.S. two weeks to respond to extensive questions raised in a lawsuit filed by Abrego Garcia about the government’s actions to enable his return. The administration’s emergency motion to halt this discovery was denied by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a strongly worded opinion. Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson decried the government’s assertion that it could detain U.S. residents in foreign prisons without due process, calling it shocking and contradictory to fundamental liberties. The ongoing case is J.G.G. v. Trump, 25-cv-766, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Original Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/abrego-garcia-judge-frustrated-at-us-failure-to-answer-questions-11747431701382.html
Category :
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-05-17 03:11:00