The issue of immigration and deportation is once again under the spotlight after Kilmar Abrego Garcia was brought back to the United States following a wrongful deportation to El Salvador.
President Donald Trump recently weighed in on the matter during a candid phone interview, shedding light on who made the call to bring Garcia back and what lies ahead.
Trump Clarifies That DOJ Made the Call to Return Garcia
Speaking with NBC News’ Kristen Welker, Trump made it clear that the decision to return Garcia wasn’t his own but rather that of the Department of Justice.
He explained there were different ways the government could handle the situation, and DOJ chose what they felt was the fastest route.
“It wasn’t my decision,” Trump said. “The Department of Justice decided to do it that way, and that’s fine.
There were two ways you could have done it, and they went with that one.”
When pressed about the legal process ahead, Trump expressed confidence that the case would move quickly and should be straightforward, despite some skepticism around the situation.
Trump Dismisses Democrats Supporting Garcia’s Return
The president didn’t hold back when addressing Democrats who supported Garcia’s return, including Senator Chris Van Hollen, who publicly spoke out against the deportation and called for due process for Garcia.
Trump labeled Garcia a “loser,” criticizing both the man and those defending him.
“He’s got a horrible record of abuse, especially against women,” Trump said bluntly. “No, he’s a total loser — this guy.”
DOJ Documents Reveal Gang Ties and Charges Against Garcia
According to documents released by the Department of Justice, Garcia was officially identified as a member of the notorious Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) back in 2019.
The records also state that Garcia did not express fear about returning to El Salvador at the time of his deportation.
On Friday, during a press conference announcing Garcia’s return, Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed a slew of charges against him.
She detailed his alleged involvement in a major international smuggling operation, emphasizing the seriousness of the accusations.
“Over the past nine years, Abrego Garcia has played a significant role in an alien smuggling ring,” Bondi said.
“This was his full-time job — smuggling humans, including women and children.”
Public Opinion Mixed But Shows Support for Deportation Policy
A recent CBS News poll sheds light on how Americans feel about the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
More than half of those surveyed — 54% — approved of the program targeting illegal immigrants, while 53% believed that the administration was focused on deporting dangerous criminals first.
However, opinions on the overall approach were divided.
The poll showed 55% liked the goals of Trump’s deportation efforts, but 56% expressed disapproval of how those goals were being pursued.