WASHINGTON — A senior attorney from the U.S. Justice Department has been placed on administrative leave following his admission in court that a Salvadoran immigrant was mistakenly deported, sparking an intense scrutiny over federal immigration enforcement practices. The case, centering around 29-year-old Kilmar Abrego Garcia, has raised significant concerns about the oversight and execution of deportation policies.
This incident came to light when Justice Department lawyer Erez Reuveni acknowledged in a court hearing that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who had legal status and protective orders in the United States, was wrongfully deported last month. The government is now appealing a lower court’s directive to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S.
Attorney General Pam Bondi made it clear that such lapses in procedural integrity would not be overlooked. In a press release issued on Saturday, Bondi stated, “At my direction, every Department of Justice attorney is required to zealously advocate on behalf of the United States. Any attorney who fails to abide by this direction will face consequences.”
Abrego Garcia, who had been residing legally in Maryland and employed as a sheet metal apprentice, was deported to El Salvador, a country he originally fled in 2011 due to gang-related threats. Even though a U.S. immigration judge granted him protection from deportation in 2019, he was detained and deported without any apparent legal justification.
The Justice Department argued that a judicial mandate compelling the executive branch to negotiate with a foreign nation in a specific manner is unconstitutional, branding such injunctions as unmanageable and lacking foundation in American legal principles.
Adding further controversy to Abrego Garcia’s case, the White House has alleged that he had associations with the gang MS-13, though his legal representation has firmly denied these assertions, highlighting his legal residence status and efforts to advance his professional qualifications.
Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, representing Abrego Garcia, criticized the government for not taking effective measures with El Salvador to rectify the situation, despite the publicity surrounding the case.
Currently, the appeals process is actively unfolding. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has requested a response from Abrego Garcia’s legal team regarding the government’s motion, setting the deadline for Sunday afternoon.
As the legal and public response continues to develop, this case underscores the complexities and human consequences of immigration enforcement in the United States. It also highlights potential gaps in the safeguarding of immigrants’ rights under legal protection statuses.
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