A warning to Democrats

The case of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia is everywhere. Every news outlet, every TV station—both in the U.S. and abroad—is talking about it. Podcasts are filled with hours of debate, and most Americans have likely heard about it and formed an opinion.

Emotions are running high on both sides, because this case touches on several sensitive and interconnected issues:

·         Deportation and how immigrants are treated

·         Illegal immigration

·         Criminal gangs with ties to foreign countries

·         Immigrants involved in crime

·         Crime in general

So let’s break down what this case is really about, and why both sides are so invested in making it a “win.”

The Core Facts

Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia is from El Salvador. He fled gang violence and entered the U.S. in 2011 at age 16. Technically, he came illegally because he wasn’t eligible for asylum. However, he was granted a legal status called “withholding of removal” due to a credible threat to his life if sent back.

This status allowed him to legally live in the U.S. and included a court order saying the government could not deport him.

But on March 15, 2025, the U.S. government deported him anyway—secretly and without warning. He was given no notice and no chance to defend himself. Two fundamental rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution—and by any society that values the rule of law—were denied.

There was no hearing to determine:

·         Whether he broke the terms of his status

·         Whether he is really part of a gang

·         Whether he committed any crimes at all

Now – after the fact – the government claims without evidence, that he is a gang member and he was involved in human trafficking and what not.

But in fact, none of that should matter until due process is followed. That’s the core of the issue: a legal resident was deported, essentially “in the dark of night,” into prison—without a fair trial.

What We Know

We don’t yet know if Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia is a criminal or not. No one has tried to prove it. No one gave him a chance to defend himself.

The Trump administration, which carried out the deportation, later admitted in sworn court testimony that it was an “administrative error.” They agreed that he should not have been deported and put into a well-known notorious and dangerous prison in El Salvador.

Now, there seems to be an agreement between the U.S. and El Salvador allowing these deportations, and reports suggest the U.S. is even paying El Salvador millions of Dollars to imprison people like Kilmar.

Common sense would suggest that both governments could easily fix this: the prison location is known, his health appears stable (as shown in recent pictures), and returning him would be simple.

So, why would the Trump administration still fight tooth and nail against doing the easy thing, the right thing, the thing, that would be a news line today, but already forgotten next week?

The Political Trap

Because no matter what happens, they win.

·         If they get away with it, they set a precedent: They’ve shown they can ignore laws and the constitution, defy court orders, and face no consequences.

·         If they are forced to return him, they’ve set a trap for Democrats and others defending him.

While I do not believe, that the Trump administration purposefully and specifically targeted him, they certainly accepted and probably wanted such a case to pop up at some point. After all, when hundreds of people are rounded up, it is a statistical certainty, that there are at least some individuals who have some sort of support to be able to stand up.

Imagine, Kilmar is brought back to the U.S. by supporters - including Democrats, journalists, judges.

And imagine further, that eventually it turns out he is, in fact, a gang member or criminal.

Then the Trump administration can say:

“See: the left wing radicals moved Heaven and Earth to bring back from El Salvador a vicious criminal.”

And they’ll repeat this message over and over, using it for political gain.

The Risk Going Forward

To be clear: I don’t believe Kilmar is a criminal. Everything we know so far suggests he is an innocent victim. But we can’t be certain—because there was no process to find out.

And if the government is allowed to continue this lawless conduct, this won’t be the last case of this kind. Statistically speaking, there is a good chance that sooner or later, a person with a criminal background will be involved in such a case. Then, that case will be used to attack Democrats, judges, journalists—anyone who defends due process and the rule of law.

What Must Be Done

The answer is not to abandon Kilmar. Everything possible must be done to bring him back—regardless of whether he turns out to be guilty or innocent. If the Trump administration wants to prosecute him in a court of law, they can do so—with evidence and due process.

But we must recognize how dangerous this tactic is.

Many ordinary Americans don’t have the time or background to understand the complex principles or legal details of this case. And many will simply conclude: “Democrats support criminals”.

That’s why those defending Kilmar must also explain clearly what’s really at stake.

This isn’t just about one man.

This is about the spirit of a free society.

It’s about Democracy.

It’s about freedom.