The illegal deportation of Maryland’s Kilmar Ábrego García to a prison in El Salvador is not just an individual tragedy but also a threat to the legal authority of the U.S. Constitution. In a rare unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the United States must “facilitate” Ábrego García’s return from El Salvador.
Despite this ruling, the White House has repeatedly refused to comply, falsely stating that Ábrego García was proven to belong to the MS-13 gang, a claim legally found to be unsupported by evidence. This case represents a severe miscarriage of justice and demonstrates the current administration’s disregard for the rule of law and constitutional governance.
This case demonstrates President Donald Trump’s desire to further expand his executive power. His administration’s blatant dismissal of the judiciary’s authority undermines the checks and balances that define our legal system, proving Trump is willing to sacrifice the Constitution in order to increase his power over the nation.
The argument that the United States is no longer obligated to return Ábrego García because he is detained in another country sets a dangerous precedent that could be used to justify future deportations. The deportation of Ábrego García may be one of the first high-profile examples of Trump’s constitutional defiance, but, unfortunately, it will likely not be the last. It is essential to continue fighting for his release, not only for individual justice to be served but also to remind the current administration of the Constitution.
The unlawful deportation of Ábrego García aligns with a dangerous pattern of the administration: a repeated disregard for checks and balances, compliance with the erosion of civil liberties and the use of fear in governance.
Democracy only functions when those in power adhere to the laws designed to protect it. If the current president continues to ignore the rule of law, democracy as we know it is at stake.