Karoline Leavitt Points Out the Problem After Judge Orders Return of Immigrant Locked Up in El Salvador Prison

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a strong response following a federal judge’s decision on Friday, which directed the Trump administration to undo the deportation of an individual sent to El Salvador.

The ruling, handed down by U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, found that the government’s deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to CECOT—a high-security facility in El Salvador known for housing gang members—constituted “an illegal act,” according to USA Today.

Judge Xinis ordered that Garcia be brought back to the United States no later than the close of Monday.

Leavitt challenged the ruling, stating that Judge Xinis should reach out directly to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele “because we are unaware of the judge having jurisdiction or authority over the country of El Salvador.”

Earlier in the week, Leavitt described Garcia as a member of the “brutal and vicious” MS-13 gang and made clear that he “will not be returning to our country.”

Judge Xinis, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, criticized the administration for not providing sufficient evidence to prove Garcia’s alleged gang affiliation.

“That’s just chatter, in my view. I haven’t been given any evidence,” Xinis remarked.

“In a court of law, when someone is accused of membership in such a violent and predatory organization, it comes in the form of an indictment, a complaint, a criminal proceeding that has robust process so we can assess the facts,” she continued.

Xinis has previously shared her perspectives on the criminal justice system in interviews with U.S. legal media.

According to USA Today, Xinis told Department of Justice attorneys that federal officials who facilitated Garcia’s deportation “have the functional control to unwind the decision.”

Garcia’s initial arrest occurred in 2019 outside a Home Depot in Maryland, where an unnamed source identified him as an MS-13 member. Despite being ordered for removal, Garcia filed for asylum, stating that he faced threats and extortion from Barrio 18—a rival gang to MS-13—who pressured him to join their ranks.

That same year, an immigration judge permitted Garcia to remain in the U.S., granting him protection.

This development comes shortly after another deportation case drew judicial scrutiny. District Court Judge James Boasberg recently ordered the administration to return alleged members of Tren de Aragua to the U.S. while their plane was en route out of the country.

Boasberg also barred former President Donald Trump from invoking executive authority under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act in connection with these deportations.

In a subsequent hearing, Boasberg examined whether the administration should be held in contempt for its handling of the court’s prior order. He rejected claims that the government had complied with his instructions in real time.

“It seems to me, there is a fair likelihood that that is not correct,” Boasberg said.

“In fact, the government acted in bad faith throughout that day. You really believed everything you did that day was legal and could survive a court challenge. I can’t believe you ever would have operated in the way you did,” he added.