“President Trump, whose administration has insisted it could not bring Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia back from El Salvador to the United States, said he does have the ability to help return the wrongly deported Maryland man, but is not willing to do so because he believes he is a gang member,” the New York Times reports.
“Mr. Trump’s comments not only undermined previous statements by his top aides, but were a blunt sign of his administration’s intention to double down and defy the courts.”
Playbook: “So how will Trump’s admission that he could secure his release with a single phone call go down with, say, Judge Paula Xinis, who has set a deadline of 5 p.m. today for more information on this case? The Supreme Court, remember, ordered the Trump administration to ‘facilitate’ Garcia’s return to the U.S. way back on April 10. This whole case suddenly got more interesting.”