Trump administration took no action to return wrongly deported man: US Judge

A US judge slammed the Trump administration for failing to help wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia return from El Salvador, saying "nothing has been done." She ordered officials to submit docs and answer questions under oath by April 23.

In Short

• Judge finds no effort by Trump administration to return deportee.
• Garcia's family pleads for his return amidst a political blame game.
• El Salvador President denies ability to return Garcia to US.

A US judge said on Tuesday that there is no proof the Trump administration has made any effort to bring back Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was wrongly deported to El Salvador. However, she said she won’t punish the government just yet.

In a hearing in Greenbelt, Maryland, US District Judge Paula Xinis stated that she had not yet received any meaningful updates on the case from the Trump administration.

"There will be no tolerance for gamesmanship or grandstanding," Judge Xinis said during the hearing. "To date, what the record shows is that nothing has been done. Nothing."

Xinis has now directed the Trump administration to surrender documents and permit officials to respond to questions under oath by April 23. She seeks to know precisely what actions they've taken to assist in bringing Abrego Garcia back to the US.

FAMILY PLEADS FOR RETURN AS US AND EL SALVADOR POINT FINGERS

Before the court hearing, people gathered outside the courthouse, chanting "Bring Kilmar home." Amongst them was Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura.

"I find myself pleading with the Trump administration and the Bukele administration to stop playing political games with the life of Kilmar," she said.

On Monday, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele visited the White House to meet with Trump. Asked about the case, Bukele stated that he could not bring Garcia back.

"The question is preposterous. How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States?" Bukele said.

In the courtroom, US government attorney Drew Ensign made reference to Bukele's words. He stated knowing El Salvador's perspective was key in determining how to comply with the judge's order.

Ensign also clarified that the US government believed they had complied with the judge's requirements. He added that they took away any obstacles for Garcia to come back — that is, if Garcia appears at a US border crossing or an embassy, he will be permitted to enter and be taken into custody.

But Judge Xinis had a different interpretation. She said that's not what she had in mind when she instructed them to "facilitate" his return. That term, she said, clearly means taking an active role in helping bring him back — not to wait for him to arrive.

On April 4, Judge Xinis ordered the Trump administration to "facilitate and effectuate" Garcia's return. Currently, Garcia is detained at a high-security prison in El Salvador known as the Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT).

Meanwhile, US Senator Chris Van Hollen stated that he might visit El Salvador if Garcia doesn't return by midweek.

(With inputs from Reuters)