A recent Supreme Court decision involving a deported Maryland man has stirred debate over immigration policy, executive authority, and legal responsibility. The case centers on Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a former sheet metal worker who had lived in the United States for 14 years before being deported to El Salvador earlier this year.

The Background

Abrego Garcia was arrested in Baltimore in March after picking up his young son. He was detained due to alleged past ties to the MS-13 gang, which is designated as a terrorist organization. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) later stated in court that his removal was due to an “administrative error,” sparking legal action and public scrutiny.

Despite ICE’s admission, the Trump administration has insisted there was no obligation to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. Attorneys for the Justice Department argued in a recent court filing that no court has the power to compel federal agencies—or the president himself—to act on foreign policy matters, including reversing deportations.