El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele made headlines after firmly rejecting a U.S. Supreme Court-backed order to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who was mistakenly deported from the United States. The announcement came during Bukele’s high-profile Oval Office meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, where the two leaders showcased their shared hardline stance on immigration and criminal enforcement.
Bukele dismissed any responsibility for facilitating Abrego Garcia’s return, framing the request as a dangerous proposition. He likened complying with the order to “smuggling a terrorist into the United States,” echoing the Trump administration’s disputed claim that Abrego Garcia is affiliated with the notorious MS-13 gang. Although Abrego Garcia’s legal representatives have denied these allegations, U.S. officials have continued to characterize him as a gang member, despite lacking publicly presented evidence.
During the meeting, members of Trump’s team, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reinforced the administration’s refusal to act on the deportation order. Bondi emphasized that the court’s mandate to help return Abrego Garcia was conditional upon El Salvador’s cooperation, which Bukele unequivocally denied. Rubio went further, declaring that foreign policy is directed by the U.S. President, not the judiciary, thereby challenging the legal authority of the court’s decision.
The dispute over Abrego Garcia’s deportation stems from a controversial use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. Under this provision, the Trump administration deported hundreds of individuals—many of them Venezuelan nationals—to El Salvador. Critics argue that many of those deported were denied due process and were labeled gang members without evidence, effectively bypassing protections afforded by U.S. immigration law. Abrego Garcia had previously received protection from deportation due to credible fears of gang violence and held legal work authorization in the United States.
Despite those safeguards, he was abruptly removed and sent to El Salvador’s high-security mega-prison, officially known as the Terrorism Confinement Center. The facility has drawn intense criticism for its sweeping incarceration policies and alleged human rights abuses. Photos and video footage released after the deportation showed Abrego Garcia and others being hurried off a plane under the cover of night. Bukele later posted a taunting message on social media, writing “Oopsie… Too late” alongside the footage, in apparent defiance of judicial efforts to reverse the deportation.
In a recent court filing, the Trump administration reiterated that it had no legal obligation to secure Abrego Garcia’s release or repatriation, despite the Supreme Court upholding a lower court’s directive to “facilitate and effectuate” his return. The justices noted that the term “effectuate” was ambiguous and may have exceeded the lower court’s authority, creating legal gray areas that the administration has exploited.
Public backlash over the case has intensified, with demonstrators—including Abrego Garcia’s wife, a U.S. citizen—gathering outside the White House to demand his return. Holding signs and chanting slogans, the crowd called on President Trump to rectify the mistake and “bring Kilmar home now.” Despite mounting pressure, Trump remained dismissive, calling reporters who questioned the administration’s handling of the case “sick people” and praising Bukele’s approach to incarceration.
The Salvadoran president defended his mass incarceration policies by reframing accusations that he had imprisoned thousands as a campaign to liberate millions from gang rule. Trump responded with enthusiasm, applauding Bukele’s methods and pledging continued cooperation, including increased deportations and assistance in building more prisons.
In a symbolic gesture of alignment, the U.S. State Department recently downgraded its travel advisory for El Salvador to the safest level, citing Bukele’s efforts to reduce violent crime. However, critics warn that this image masks a darker reality, where mass detentions and politically motivated deportations leave vulnerable individuals without recourse or justice.
As legal battles continue and public scrutiny grows, the fate of Kilmar Abrego Garcia hangs in the balance—a human face in a clash of politics, immigration enforcement, and international law.
