President Donald Trump and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele discussed the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia — a man who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador — during a meeting in the Oval Office.
Bukele made it clear he would not assist in returning Garcia to the U.S., claiming it would be like smuggling a terrorist back into the country.
Trump nodded in agreement, signaling his support for Bukele’s stance.
Garcia’s case is complicated. A prior court ruling had protected him from deportation, yet he now finds himself in a Salvadoran prison.
Although the Supreme Court instructed the administration to help facilitate Garcia’s return, the Justice Department argued that such decisions rest solely with the president — effectively deflecting responsibility back to Bukele.
Critics have raised alarms about the Trump administration’s approach to deportation, often branding migrants as gang members based on flimsy evidence such as tattoos.
