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In a recent development involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident mistakenly deported to El Salvador, President Donald Trump clarified on Saturday that the decision to return Abrego Garcia to the United States to face federal charges was made by the Department of Justice. "That wasn't my decision," Trump stated during a phone call with NBC News, adding, "It should be a very easy case" for federal prosecutors.

Trump confirmed that he did not discuss Abrego Garcia's return with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, despite having spoken with Bukele about Abrego Garcia during a meeting in the Oval Office in April. The president’s comments followed the arrival of Abrego Garcia back in the U.S. on Friday. He is now indicted on charges of transporting individuals who were not legally in the country, a case that has garnered attention due to its complex legal battle reaching the Supreme Court.

Abrego Garcia’s family and lawyers defend him as a family man, countering allegations from Trump and his administration that he is affiliated with the MS-13 gang. His initial deportation was described by the administration as an "administrative error," since he had previously held legal protection from deportation to El Salvador. Despite the Supreme Court ruling mandating his return, the Trump administration delayed facilitating his return to the U.S.

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland has criticized the deportation, arguing Abrego Garcia was deprived of due process. Van Hollen, who visited Abrego Garcia in an El Salvador jail in April, maintained that he should have had the opportunity to contest his deportation. Trump responded to Van Hollen's actions by labeling him a "loser" and emphasizing that defending someone with a "horrible record of abuse" is not a stance that resonates with the public.

On Friday, Attorney General Pam Bondi accused Abrego Garcia of being a human smuggler, asserting that he had made over 100 trips to transport people unlawfully within the U.S. Bondi's allegations were met with strong opposition from Abrego Garcia's legal team, who labeled her actions as "an abuse of power, not justice."

The case continues to unfold, with federal prosecutors now tasked with handling the allegations against Abrego Garcia, while the political implications and debates around due process and deportation procedures persist.