Vice President J.D. Vance Defends Trump Administration’s Deportation Error

Vice President J.D. Vance responded to the Trump administration’s admission of erroneously sending Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran with protected legal status, to prison in El Salvador. Vance criticized those who condemn deportations of suspected gang members while ignoring their victims, highlighting issues with the administration’s labeling of migrants based on tattoos. The case exemplifies the difficulties surrounding protected status in immigration enforcement.

Vice President J.D. Vance addressed inquiries regarding the Trump administration’s admission of mistakenly sending Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man with protected legal status, to a megaprison in El Salvador. In a response on X to Jon Favreau, host of “Pod Save America,” Vance remarked, “It’s gross to get fired up about gang members getting deported while ignoring citizens they victimize.”

The administration’s attorneys acknowledged in a recent court filing that the deportation of Abrego Garcia to El Salvador was an error, reported by The Atlantic. However, they further asserted that U.S. courts lack the jurisdiction to mandate his return from the prison. Abrego Garcia was deported from Maryland alongside other Salvadoran and Venezuelan migrants on March 15, under allegations of gang affiliations.

Venezuelan migrants’ attorneys have highlighted issues with the categorization of removed migrants, pointing out that several were incorrectly labeled as gang members based solely on their tattoos. While the administration claims those sent to the prison are the “worst of the worst,” certain tattoos, such as a crown or the “Jumpman” logo, are deemed gang-affiliated despite not representing any specific gang.

Responding to Favreau, who was an aide to former President Obama, Vance added that “you apparently didn’t read he was a convicted MS-13 gang member with no legal right to be here,” referencing details from the court filing. Vance reiterated, “It’s gross to get fired up about gang members getting deported while ignoring citizens they victimize.”

The court filing indicated that Abrego Garcia was denied bond in 2019 due to allegations of MS-13 membership, though he has not faced a conviction. Furthermore, it was revealed that he entered the U.S. in 2011 at age 16 after escaping gang threats in El Salvador. In 2019, he was granted a form of protected status known as “withholding of removal” due to the risk of targeted violence from Salvadoran gangs if deported.

In summary, Vice President J.D. Vance defended the Trump administration’s actions regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation, amid controversy surrounding the mischaracterization of migrants based on tattoos. While the administration’s acknowledgment of error highlights flaws in the deportation process, Vance criticized the focus on gang member deportations rather than the victims of their actions. The complexities of the case underscore the challenges faced by individuals with protected legal status in immigration enforcement scenarios.

Original Source: www.foxnews.com