Donald Trump said Friday he would honor the Supreme Court’s decision to return a man mistakenly deported to El Salvador.
“If the Supreme Court said bring somebody back I would do that. I respect the Supreme Court,” Trump stated aboard Air Force One. “I have great respect for the Supreme Court,” he added.
The Court on Thursday declined to overturn a judge’s order requiring the administration to “facilitate” the return of Kilmer Abrego Garcia. While the justices asked the lower court to clarify the wording, they upheld the judge’s approach in ensuring Garcia’s case proceeds “as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador.”
Earlier Friday, the White House appeared cautious about how far it would go.
“The Supreme Court made their ruling last night very clear that it’s the administration’s responsibility to facilitate the return, not to effectuate the return,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
At a hearing that same afternoon, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis criticized the Justice Department for seeking delays instead of promptly updating the court. The judge expressed frustration with the department’s efforts to stall the case.
The ruling represents a legal rebuke of the administration’s deportation tactics, emphasizing due process and judicial oversight even in immigration enforcement.
