(NewsNation) — The Trump administration is working on the return of a Maryland man mistakenly sent to a Salvadoran prison, even if a federal judge in the case is expressing frustration at the pace, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said Friday.
The U.S. Supreme Court this week said the government must facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom the U.S. sent to El Salvador last month with dozens of alleged migrant gang members. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis pressed the Justice Department for a status report and received little information from government attorneys.
Appearing Friday on “Elizabeth Vargas Reports,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce signaled the White House is working on Abrego Garcia’s release, but maybe not on a schedule that pleases Judge Xinis. President Trump on Friday evening said he respects the Supreme Court and would follow the order.
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“We’re addressing the Supreme Court ruling, we’re engaging with this. Right now, the judge has an issue with timing,” Bruce said. “But the Department of Justice knows what that ruling is and clearly is complying with her orders and answering her questions.”
Host Elizabeth Vargas noted the administration’s attorneys did not provide information. She asked Bruce why Trump simply cannot call Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele, whose country is being paid $6 million to incarcerate the deportees, to make the release happen. Bukele is expected to be in Washington on Monday to meet with Trump.
“The conversations will be wide-ranging, I’m sure. I can’t speak to them because I don’t know the details,” Bruce said.
Also Friday, Bruce said this weekend’s slated talks in Oman between the U.S. and Iran over Iran’s nuclear capabilities are a major step forward, even if Iran insists the talks are not direct, but rather with the help of a go-between.
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And Bruce praised an immigration judge’s decision that the U.S. can continue deportation proceedings against former Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder who is accused of supporting the terrorist organization Hamas.
“Every sovereign nation has a right to decide who’s going to come in and the standard of what allows you to stay in this nation,” Bruce said.
Khalil’s attorneys said they plan to keep fighting, and the judge gave them until April 23 to seek a waiver.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
