Lawyers representing Kilmar Abrego Garcia have accused the Trump administration of feigning powerlessness for weeks in bringing him back to the United States from El Salvador, despite directives from a federal judge and the Supreme Court to facilitate his return. Abrego Garcia, a Maryland construction worker, was recently flown to Tennessee to face federal human smuggling charges. His attorneys assert that the government could have returned him earlier but deliberately chose not to, engaging in a systematic effort to flout court orders and undermine due process.

The ongoing legal battle stems from Abrego Garcia’s mistaken deportation, with his attorneys contending that the executive branch’s disregard for judicial mandates has tarnished the Constitution. In response, the Trump administration seeks to halt the lawsuit, arguing that Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S. fulfills its obligations. Despite accusations of improper actions, U.S. officials maintain that Abrego Garcia’s deportation was based on allegations of gang membership, which he denies, and a prior immigration judge’s order protecting him from expulsion due to potential persecution in El Salvador.

The case has sparked a contentious back-and-forth between Abrego Garcia’s legal team and government representatives, with the judiciary yet to rule on sensitive information claimed to be protected under state secrets privilege. The complexity of the situation underscores the clash between legal mandates, executive authority, and individual rights, as Abrego Garcia’s fight to return to the U.S. continues amidst legal wrangling and public scrutiny.