Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant, was deported to El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison despite a lack of evidence supporting the charges against him. The US Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Garcia's return to the US should be facilitated. However, Trump's administration, through Attorney General Pam Bondi, claims it cannot act, while El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele claims he cannot return a "terrorist".
Trump's defiance marks the first time in US history that a president has openly rejected a Supreme Court ruling. This unprecedented move raises concerns about the rule of law and the balance of power within the US government. The Supreme Court lacks the enforcement mechanisms to compel Trump's compliance.
Trump's actions may serve as a test of the limits of presidential power. The article speculates that his defiance could embolden future challenges to constitutional norms, particularly if he runs for a third term, despite legal restrictions.
Garcia remains imprisoned in CECOT, highlighting the human cost of political maneuvering and the lack of accountability for those in power.