Sen. Whitehouse: Trump administration could face $1M daily fine over wrongful deportation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), appeared on MSNBC where he discussed possible legal ramifications after the Trump administration deported a Maryland man to El Salvador. Whitehouse suggested the deportation could cost $1M per day in compensatory damages for each day that the man is not brought back to the United States.

The Maryland man is Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was sent to El Salvador’s mega prison after an “administrative error,” despite his protected legal status, as admitted by the government in a court filing.

Despite admitting the error, the Trump administration refuses to bring Abrego Garcia back to the United States. As a result, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis issued an order to begin contempt of court testimony, arguing that the Trump administration defied a “clear” Supreme Court order to bring Abrego Garcia back.

Whitehouse suggested that Xinis or another judge could hold members of the Trump administration in civil contempt and fine the administration a million dollars a day until Abrego Garcia is back in the United States. He also said a judge may even award some of the money to Abrego Garcia.

In response, Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said they have no plan to send Abrego Garcia back. Administration officials have accused Abrego Garcia of having ties to the MS-13 gang. Abrego Garcia has denied this accusation.