El Salvador Rejects US Request to Return Deported Migrant

El Salvador has refused a request from the Trump administration to release Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who was mistakenly deported there despite a court order prohibiting his expulsion. The Supreme Court had ruled that the administration must 'facilitate' Garcia's return, but President Bukele's government argued that Garcia should remain in El Salvador because he is a Salvadoran citizen. The Trump administration's efforts, including a diplomatic note, have raised questions among legal experts about whether they are genuine attempts to comply with the court's ruling or simply actions to create an appearance of compliance. President Trump has publicly expressed skepticism about Garcia, labeling him as associated with the MS-13 gang, despite disputes over the validity of this claim and a lack of criminal convictions tied to gang activity. The administration faces a court-imposed deadline to update on steps taken to return Garcia, while publicly maintaining a tough stance and privately encountering resistance from El Salvador. This situation highlights tensions between U.S. judicial orders and international cooperation, as well as the politicization of immigration enforcement.