Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) is calling out the Trump administration for blatantly defying a Supreme Court order requiring the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States. During a press briefing following his recent fact-finding trip to El Salvador, the Florida congressman confirmed that President Trump is taking no action to comply with the high court’s unanimous ruling.
Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who had been living in Maryland, was wrongfully deported by the Trump administration in what officials later described as an “administrative error.” Since then, multiple federal courts—including the Supreme Court—have ordered Trump officials to facilitate his return to ensure his constitutional right to due process is upheld.
But according to Rep. Frost, there’s no movement from the White House. “The Trump administration has not told the embassy to begin the facilitation of [Abrego Garcia’s] return at all,” Frost said, referencing his classified briefing with the U.S. ambassador in El Salvador. “They are blatantly disobeying the Supreme Court order.”
Frost didn’t mince words when asked whether Trump officials should be held in contempt of court for their inaction. “Yes. I think it is a good idea,” he said, adding that administration officials are attempting to deceive the public while continuing to flout the rule of law.
Despite clear directives from a district court, a federal appeals court, and the Supreme Court, the Trump administration has made no effort to repatriate Abrego Garcia. President Trump himself has dismissed the responsibility, falsely claiming the decision is out of his control. On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump recently threatened legal action against those advocating for Abrego Garcia’s return, further inflaming the controversy.
Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis—who is overseeing the case—has hinted that she may pursue contempt proceedings against Trump officials for their refusal to act. Legal experts note that contempt charges could result in penalties ranging from fines to potential jail time, though enforcement would fall to agencies now staffed by Trump loyalists, complicating the path to accountability.
Frost emphasized that this legal standoff is bigger than just one person. “We’re going down a very dark road,” he warned. “This is about a president ignoring court orders and constitutional rights.” He also raised concerns about Trump’s recent remarks suggesting he wants to start targeting U.S. citizens next—sending them to overseas detention centers without due process, a plan critics call unconstitutional and authoritarian.
Frost pledged that Democrats will continue to apply public and political pressure. More lawmakers are expected to travel to El Salvador in the coming weeks to demand Abrego Garcia’s release and draw attention to the broader implications of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
“This is not just about one man,” Frost said. “This is about defending the rule of law and ensuring no one—especially not a sitting president—is above it.”
