Former President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that he was not responsible for the decision to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a suspected MS-13 gang member, to the U.S. to face federal charges. Trump told NBC News the decision was made by the Justice Department and not by him, saying, “That wasn’t my decision.” He also noted he hadn’t recently spoken with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele about the matter. Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S. marked a shift from earlier White House pledges that he would never reenter the country. Instead, he now faces trial for alleged involvement in a 2022 incident in Tennessee, where he was suspected of transporting undocumented immigrants. Trump commented that the case should be “very easy” for federal prosecutors.
Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador in March and held for three months in a high-security prison. His deportation sparked legal debate, with a Justice Department lawyer initially arguing it was wrongful—a claim later reversed. The administration asserted that as a confirmed MS-13 member, and with the gang newly designated a terrorist organization, protections against deportation no longer applied. The case became politically charged, with Senator Chris Van Hollen visiting Abrego Garcia in El Salvador and calling for due process. Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller criticized Democrats for supporting Garcia, labeling him a “monster” and insisting that he will face justice, serve prison time, and be deported again. Miller also lashed out at media coverage, defending the administration’s actions.
