A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to submit evidence within two weeks regarding their efforts to return a Maryland man, Kilmar Ábrego García, who was wrongly deported to El Salvador last month. Judge Paula Xinis criticized government officials for their inaction and warned there would be no tolerance for any manipulation in the case.

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele stated during a visit to the White House that he does not have the power to return García. The Supreme Court previously ordered the administration to facilitate García’s release, but the White House maintains that he has ties to the MS-13 gang, a claim his legal team denies. Judge Xinis accused the justice department of doing nothing so far and demanded daily updates on the government’s actions to return García.

Before Tuesday’s hearing, García’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, pleaded with both the Trump administration and the Bukele administration to stop playing political games with García’s life. The Supreme Court recently ruled that García’s removal to El Salvador was illegal due to his legal protection against deportation. The Trump administration claims that any mistake made was due to a lawyer’s incorrect line in a legal filing.

A contempt of court ruling would escalate the constitutional showdown between the Trump administration and the judiciary. The administration argues that Judge Xinis is overstepping her authority by interfering with the executive branch’s ability to conduct foreign policy. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen plans to visit García in El Salvador to check on his wellbeing and ask for his release.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c793vwrrgjwo