The U.S. Supreme Court has supported a federal judge's order from Maryland, which requires the Trump administration to return Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia to the United States. Garcia, a Maryland resident, was wrongfully deported and placed in a maximum-security prison in El Salvador following what the administration termed an “administrative error.”
Northwestern University experts, available for media comment, are expressing their insights on the case. Jacqueline Stevens, a political science professor and founder of the Deportation Research Clinic at Northwestern's Buffett Institute for Global Affairs, noted, “The Supreme Court last night stated that the removal of an individual to an El Salvador prison in defiance of a U.S. statute and a federal court order was ‘illegal.’”
Stevens explained that the court's decision to remand the case to the district court for further clarification is consistent with historical executive deference in foreign policy matters. She added, “The district court’s order can be accommodated by the Trump administration using official channels to affect the return of one person they’ve illegally taken to El Salvador."
The legal expert emphasized that the federal government, which regularly extradites criminals, should be able to organize Garcia's return. “A federal government that regularly extradites criminals from foreign countries attempting to evade punishment by the U.S. cannot credibly claim it is unable to organize a flight to Washington, D.C., for someone who desperately wants to return home,” Stevens said.
For further commentary from Stevens, media can reach out to Stephanie Kulke.
Kathleen M. Vannucci, an adjunct professor at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and an immigration attorney in Chicago, can also provide insights into this case. Vannucci’s work involves family-based immigration and deportation proceedings among other areas.
Those interested in speaking with Professor Vannucci can contact Shanice Harris.