Stephen Miller, Fox News’ Bill Hemmer tussle over deporting alleged gang member to El Salvador

Fox News host Bill Hemmer and White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller quarreled Monday over the deportation of an alleged MS-13 gang member who had been deported by President Donald Trump’s administration.

The White House has defended the deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, an El Salvadoran national, based on police department documents that ostensibly verified his gang affiliation. In a heated debate on “America’s Newsroom,” Miller told Hemmer that Garcia had not been “mistakenly sent” to his native country since he is an illegal immigrant who is evidently tied to a violent criminal gang.

“This has been portrayed wrong for 72 hours in the news media. They said the most a court could ever compel you to do is to facilitate return which would basically mean if El Salvador voluntarily sends him back, we wouldn’t block him at the airport, we would put him back into [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] detention and then he would be deported either back to El Salvador or somewhere else,” Miller said. “The Supreme Court said that is the most that the government can do, so we won the case handily. The misreporting on this has been atrocious. He was not, no Bill, it’s important, he was not mistakenly sent to El Salvador. He’s an illegal alien from El Salvador, hold on, this is important.

“In 2019, he was ordered deported, he was a final removal order from the United States. These are things that no one disputes. Where is he from? El Salvador. Where is he a resident and citizen of? El Salvador. Is he here illegally? Yes. Does he have a deportation order? Yes,” Miller added.

Miller further stated that an immigration’s judge’s holding order on Garcia’s deportation is invalid since he is an alleged member of a foreign terrorist organization.

WATCH:

Hemmer, growing visibly agitated, asked Miller if he is certain that Garcia is currently a member of MS-13.

“Okay, so you just answered my question. Give me a chance … I get it, I get it. Just give me a chance … You don’t even allow me to ask you a question,” Hemmer snapped. “Are you convinced he is still a member of MS-13? That was your original charge. Do you stand by that now?”

“Yes. But here’s the thing, Bill. Yes, but not only am I convinced of it, not only is El Salvador convinced of it, Bill, he’s an illegal alien from El Salvador with a deportation order! So, his only options in life, Bill, his only options in life are to be deported to El Salvador or to be deported to some other country. That’s it. He has a deportation order. So Bill, you tell me, what country should we deport him to? Tell me, please, tell me,” Miller replied.

While the Trump administration acknowledged that the deportation of Garcia was a clerical error, they maintain that he is an MS-13 gang member and should be kept in detention in El Salvador. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, an Obama-appointed judge, ordered the administration to quickly effectuate Garcia’s return to the U.S., which the administration challenged.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily blocked the judge’s order in an April 7 ruling, stating that the U.S. cannot “compel El Salvador to follow a federal judge’s bidding.” Miller further told Hemmer that forcing El Salvador to extradite Garcia back to the U.S. would be “an unimaginable act and an invasion of El Salvador’s sovereignty.”

However, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the administration should “facilitate” the return of Garcia, and directed the lower court to clarify its order.

Garcia unlawfully entered the U.S. in 2011 and eventually settled in the Maryland area, according to court documents. Following his arrest in 2019, documentation compiled by the Prince George’s County Police Department verified that Garcia was a documented member of MS-13, providing his alleged gang name and his rank within the gang.

A judge Garcia a protected status known as “withholding of removal” in October 2019 after determining that he would likely be persecuted by gangs if deported back to El Salvador, according to court documents. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents informed Garcia of his status change and arrested him on March 12, prompting his deportation to El Salvador.

Latest posts by Nicole Silverio (see all)

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.