U.S. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller speaks to reporters at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 18, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
President Donald Trump's adviser Stephen Miller doubled down Friday afternoon in the White House's clash with judges in a high-profile deportation case, insisting the Supreme Court has been "abundantly clear" and that the administration cannot return a Maryland father who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was wrongfully deported to the country due to what the Trump administration called an administrative error. The Supreme Court issued a murky ruling that the Trump administration must "facilitate" his return, but kicked the case back to a lower court to clarify "effectuate." The U.S. government has maintained he is a threat due to alleged gang ties, though his family and legal team dispute the claims.
On Friday, Miller took questions from the media about the contentious court battle.
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"Mr. Miller. You mentioned [Salvadoran President Nayib]Bukele and the fact that Garcia is now in El Salvador's custody. But the question is, has president Trump expressed any interest at all in seeing Garcia moved to a different country, or would he want him to stay in El Salvador? Did he discuss that with Bukele or any of his advisors, specifically with immigration?" the reporter asked.
Miller replied, "The Supreme Court has been abundantly clear when it overturned the lower court’s ruling that the foreign policy of the United States cannot be compelled by a district court," said Miller. "The view of our administration has been very clear and consistent that this man is a subject and citizen of El Salvador. And El Salvador as a country has informed us repeatedly and publicly that it is their desire and intention to retain custody of him. And of course, we, as the U.S. government, cannot forcibly retrieve him against the wishes of El Salvador."
Miller said if they forcibly retrieved Abrego Garcia, the "irony" would be he'd be deported a second time "back to El Salvador" because he still has a deportation order against him.
"The withholding order that has been so much discussed is no longer valid or enforced because he's a member of a foreign terrorist organization. And because the fake claim that he completely fabricated about being persecuted by a rival gang no longer exists. The gang itself no longer exists in the country," he concluded.
Watch the clip below or at this link.