Abrego Garcia’s Lawyers Argue U.S. Return ‘Should Not End’ Trump Contempt Probe

What Happened?

Lawyers for a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador have filed a lawsuit amid his return to the U.S. to face charges.

In a court filing on Sunday, attorneys for 29-year-old Kilmar Abrego Garcia argued that a judge's investigation into whether the Trump administration should be held in contempt should not end.

They disputed that the administration complied with U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis' order to return the father of three and sheet worker.

'Until the Government is held accountable for its blatant, willful, and persistent violations of court orders at excruciating cost to Abrego Garcia and his family, this case is not over,' Abrego Garcia's lawyers wrote.

President Donald Trump told NBC News on Saturday that it wasn’t his decision to bring Abrego Garcia back.

'It should be a very easy case' for federal prosecutors, Trump said during his phone call interview.

Abrego Garcia was brought back to face criminal charges of migrant smuggling in Tennessee.

Why it Matters

Following a series of court battles, the Trump administration had repeatedly stood by its claims it was unable to bring the 29-year-old back.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele previously told reporters that Abrego Garcia would remain in the country's custody.

Bukele called it 'preposterous' to allude that he would try and 'smuggle' Abrego Garcia back into the U.S. illegally.

The White House faced criticism following an 'administrative stay' granted by the Supreme Court.

White House officials had previously acknowledged that Abrego Garcia was deported in error.

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen was one of the few congressional members who sought his return.

Previously stopped by armed guards, Sen. Van Hollen was later allowed to visit Abrego Garcia while he was held in an El Salvador max prison.

He posted photos with Abrego Garcia as the Trump administration continued to deny his return.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized Democratic members like Van Hollen last week for defending the suspected MS-13 member.

'Abrego Garcia was never an innocent ‘Maryland Man’– Abrego Garcia is an illegal alien terrorist, gang member, and human trafficker who has spent his entire life abusing innocent people, especially women and the most vulnerable,' Leavitt told Fox News.

Leavitt strongly suggested that those who defended Abrego Garcia should apologize to his alleged victims.

'The Trump administration will continue to hold criminals accountable to the fullest extent of the law,' she added.

How it Affects You

The case involving Abrego Garcia follows growing tension surrounding immigration across the U.S.

Thousands have taken to the streets across Los Angeles, CA., to display frustrations over President Trump's deportation efforts through increased ICE operations.

Ice arrests during Trump's second term have reportedly topped 100,000 as of June 5.

It marked increased arrests across the country that have even targeted a list of 'sanctuary jurisdictions.'

The case of Abrego Garcia may soon follow others as the landscape surrounding U.S. immigration policy may change as we once knew it.