The saga of Kilmar Abrego Garcia is not just another bureaucratic mishap swept under the rug. It’s a constitutional crossroads, a diplomatic standoff, and a gut-check moment for a nation that prides itself on being a beacon of justice and due process. At the heart of this story is a Maryland father, a lawful resident, a hard-working husband, and caregiver to a child with special needs—wrongly deported due to a self-admitted “administrative error” by the U.S. government. And now, instead of being home with his family, he’s locked inside one of the most brutal prisons in El Salvador, caught between Washington’s silence and San Salvador’s stubbornness.

Both the U.S. Supreme Court and President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador have weighed in—each from vastly different angles—and the American people are left staring at a justice system that seems more interested in technicalities than in truth.

So, let’s take a sober walk through this mess—guided by biblical principles, constitutional values, and a healthy dose of common sense.

The Supreme Court: Law, Limits, and a Legal Lifeline

The Supreme Court took a deliberate, cautious step toward correcting this injustice. In a narrowly tailored opinion, the justices upheld a federal judge’s authority to compel the U.S. government to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return—essentially saying, “You broke it, you fix it.”

But the justices stopped short of endorsing a court order that would “effectuate” the return, citing concern over infringing on the Executive Branch’s foreign policy powers. In simpler terms: yes, the courts can demand the government act—but they can’t play Secretary of State.

Still, Justice Sonia Sotomayor rightly warned that allowing the government to deport someone in violation of a legal order, and then wash its hands of the whole thing, would “gut the protections of the law.” And she’s absolutely right. If courts don’t hold the government accountable for wrongful deportation, then what’s the point of having court orders in the first place?

Let’s not forget: this wasn’t a minor paperwork glitch. A judge had previously ruled that Kilmar Garcia must not be deported due to the credible threat of persecution he faced in El Salvador—especially for resisting gang recruitment. That’s a court-backed finding, not a theory.

And from a Christian perspective, we’re reminded in Proverbs 31:8–9 to “open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.” That’s Kilmar Abrego Garcia in a nutshell. He followed the law, trusted the process, and now he’s suffering in silence behind foreign bars.

Now, to be fair, the Constitution does reserve foreign policy to the executive branch. Critics of the ruling argue that the judiciary shouldn’t dictate international moves like this. And yes, there’s a difference between recognizing a wrong and overstepping into diplomatic affairs.

But let’s not kid ourselves—the problem here isn’t judicial activism. It’s executive indifference. If the administration had acted with urgency and conviction from day one, we wouldn’t be in this mess.

Bukele’s Bold Refusal: Standing on Sovereignty or Standing in the Way?

While standing beside President Trump in the Oval Office, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele flatly declared that he would not return Kilmar Abrego Garcia. His reasoning? He labeled Garcia a “terrorist” and claimed he doesn’t have the power to release him.

Now, to be fair, sovereignty is no small thing. Every nation has the right to determine who it detains, and Bukele has made his political career on cracking down—hard—on gangs like MS-13. From his standpoint, handing over someone labeled (however wrongly) as dangerous could be seen as folding under pressure.

But here’s the problem: there is no evidence that Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a gang member, terrorist, or criminal. He has no criminal record in the U.S. or El Salvador. In fact, he fled El Salvador years ago to escape the gangs.

This isn’t about sovereignty. It’s about saving face. And when saving face comes at the cost of an innocent man’s freedom, that’s not strong leadership—it’s tyranny.

If Bukele wants international respect, here’s some biblical wisdom: “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God” (2 Samuel 23:3). Keeping an innocent man locked up to look tough isn’t justice—it’s injustice.

Bondi’s Response: Legal Restraint or Moral Abdication?

Attorney General Pam Bondi summed up the U.S. government’s current position with a shrug: “That’s not up to us. If they wanted to return him, we would facilitate it—meaning provide a plane.”

Sounds logistical. Sounds rational. Sounds… off.

Sure, the U.S. can’t just storm a Salvadoran prison and extract a detainee like it’s a Mission: Impossible movie. That would spark a full-blown diplomatic crisis.

But Bondi’s words ring hollow. “We’ll provide a plane” isn’t a strategy—it’s a cop-out. The hard part isn’t providing the jet fuel; it’s making the calls, applying the pressure, rallying the allies, and owning up to the mistake. That’s leadership. That’s what a just government does.

And again, let’s bring in a little Bible: “He is the minister of God to thee for good… a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Romans 13:4). Government isn’t just a bureaucracy—it’s a moral institution, ordained by God, to protect the innocent and restrain evil. Facilitating isn’t enough. Intervening is the duty.

The Bigger Picture: What This Case Reveals About Our Government

This case is not just about Kilmar Abrego Garcia. It’s a magnifying glass on the gears of government—and what we see is not comforting.

It’s about:

• What happens when bureaucracy runs on autopilot.
• Whether court orders are just paper or actually carry weight.
• Whether the government is willing to defend the people it wrongs.
• Whether justice is a slogan or a standard.

The Bible doesn’t call government to be perfect. But it does call government to “do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God” (Micah 6:8).

And justice in this case would look like this:

✅ Admit the mistake.
✅ Apologize to the family.
✅ Do everything in our diplomatic arsenal to bring this man home.
✅ Create safeguards so this never happens again.

Final Verdict

The United States must take full, public responsibility for the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Not just in words, but in action. It must pursue every legal, diplomatic, and moral avenue to secure his release and return.

El Salvador must not use “sovereignty” as an excuse to hold a man hostage. There is no justice in detaining someone indefinitely for a crime he was never charged with and didn’t commit.

The judiciary has done its part. Now it’s time for the executive branch to do theirs.

Justice delayed is justice denied—and justice denied is un-American, un-Christian, and unacceptable.