As much as we want Kilmar Abrego Garcia freed, don't forget there are 260+ others jailed in El Salvador without due process. The abduction of people kidnapped off the street and imprisoned in a foreign land means the end of rights guaranteed since 1215 (i.e., the Magna Carta) and the 4th, 8th and 14th Amendments in our Constitution. The writ of habeas corpus, which allows individuals to challenge the legality of their detention, has a long history tied to the Magna Carta.
The 4th Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, while the 14th Due Process Clause ensures a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
As if those violations of the Constitution were not enough, the cruel and unusual punishment clause of the 8th Amendment prohibits such action inflicted by the government This amendment aims to protect individuals like Kilmar Garcia--and all other residents of the US, to be protected by the Constitution, from punishment that is excessively harsh or inhumane.
Trump has destroyed the Constitution and the Magna Carta in 84 days, with the help of cowed, cowardlyRepublicans in Congress and the SCOTUS. Shades of Nazi Germany 1930s!
Funny that you should invoke the Magna Carta. It was the first attempt to rein in the depredations of an autocratic monarch. What goes around comes around. But Kilmar is emblematic of the line that tRump and the MAGAts are drawing through our society. They place what they consider to be the GOOD people on their side and every one else on the other. The good thing is that like all fanatics, they are making the out-group much larger than the in-group. How we support and protect the out-group is the order of the day. By the way, tRump considers almost everyone reading here to be in the out group.
Absolutely. How clever of them to narrow our protest to Abrego - Garcia when there are hundreds of of others who were also imprisoned without due process.
It is easier to protest with one name and one face. A protest of a group makes Americans eyes glass over. They have short attention scans. Most don't care. It would be a big win. Sometimes one rock gets the avalanche rolling.
They absolutely are, at least the fascist majority. He should never have been given immunity for "official" acts. This is a level of power that, to the best of my memory, no other President has sought or been granted. Thanks, for nothing guys!
We have legislation! We have laws! Those are what trump is busy destroying. He deported all of those men in violation of existing laws & is now defying court orders based on existing laws! We do not need legislation — what on earth good would that do?
Here is the list (so far) of the prisoners unjustly incarcerated at the CECOT prison in El Salvador. I have included the state from which they were abducted in the hope that pm in residents of those states will advocate with their Representatives for bringing their fellow residents back. home.
Yes. And the wanton slaughter of Palestinians by Israel/Netanyahu continues with the blessing of the U.S., something that was true under Biden as well as Trump. Biden, the President who in four years could not or would not ensure that Trump the traitor would never run again. Was Biden just weak and addled or was something more sinister going on? In any case, in part thanks to Biden, we now have Trump to deal with, and we better not shrink from the task.
No. Just no. Voters chose Trump - someone with a close relationship with Netanyahu who could be EXPECTED to do just what he has done, namely support his right-wing buddy in all respects.. They passed over the sane, reasonable candidate who should have been given a chance to forge her own path in ME policy.
As Biden's vice president she had to publicly support his position, especially when negotiations for hostages were always going on, but personally, she always expressed compassion for Gazans. And when she was forced to meet with Netanyahu that last time, there was no embrace, just a steely-eyed handshake.
And there was only one reason why Trump was allowed to run again - the Senate abrogated its duty in the impeachment. Namely, Mitch McConnell. And then they compounded the error by nominating him again and bending the knee all along the way.
Kavanagh was a lawyer on the Clinton impeachment and the ‘Brooks Brothers riot’ where they wrenched Florida and the Presidency out of Al Gore’s hands. Bush put John Roberts on the Supreme Court. Roberts opened the door to billionaires with Citizens United, then closed a door to voting rights with Shelby v Holder. When Scalia died Mitch took the wheel and gave Roberts the court he needed to end the Jan 6 investigation and declare Trump immune.
All good points, Janet. Don't disagree about the cowardly Republicans and two-faced Mitch. I do think if Biden had put aside his ego and allowed Kamala to run from the start she would've had a better chance. Biden was clearly not up to a second term long before he finally bowed out, under pressure.
And, I think that if Attorney Merrick Garland had done his job, Trump would be in jail. Jack Smith just didn't have enough time--given Aileen Canon's disruptions--to finish his case, which Musk probably has destroyed. It boggles my mind!
Thank you! It is the voters of this country who elected Trump. They either voted for him or they stayed home and did not vote! We all knew who he was. I have known since at least the 80s that Trump was and is a vile human being. I must admit I never thought he would be this bad or that Republicans would just roll over and play dead for him.
Where is the rule of law, due process, and the Constitution?
The U.S. Senate had TWO chances to impeachment Trump. TWO. Mitch McConnell, may he rot in hell, couldn't bothered with impeachment Trump even after January 6th.
Agreed. I think that the idea of focus on one man is a way to humanize something that can become just numbers. One thing that I suggest is that we all find out who the men are from our state and harass representatives about them, etc. For instance, I know of two men in NC who fall into this category: Julio Zambrano Perez and Arturo Suárez Trejo. I have been contacting Senators Budd and Tillis to demand that they advocate for their constituents.
Other families are now speaking out as well. I saw a story today on a 19-year-old who was sent to the El Salvidor prison, even though he was not the person ICE was seeking and had immigration papers. We need to continue adding names, even as we focus on Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
Say the names brought awareness to police brutality and BLM. We need to Say the names here. Each one created and loved by God and their families. I bet every one of us knows a "criminal" perhaps who even served time for their crime, but we would be horrified if they were shot down the rabbit hole like these men. And someone back in my dim memories I remember ICE arrested some WOMEN but found out the prison would only take men. Where are they?????
Carol--Were you able to compile a partial list? I ask because this issue has also been raised at Brian Tyler Cohen's Substack. I expect someone, somewhere has made such a list of those who are known, but I have not been able to find one.
I have only 5 names so far. They are in my comment that follows my original post. Last week was busy with choir duties for Holy Week, so I didn’t have much time to search. Only two people sent me names.
Thanks for the link! I'll jump on our senate potted plants Tillis and Budd, too. Not sure how much good it will do, they're mostly non-responsive, but it's worth making noise over this!
I was stunned to learn that Tillis is one of seven Republicans who is co-sponsoring the bipartisan Grassley/Cantwell bill, The Trade Review Act of 2025, which would require congressional approval of unilateral tariffs proposed by the executive branch. I'm hoping this fissure of defiance against Trump will turn into a full-fledged rebellion!
Tillis is up for reelection in the 2026 mid-terms, and he's no fool. He KNOWS how angry voters are. But he isn't wrong to support this bill. I HOPE it passes, but republicans control the senate, so they decide what bills get brought to the floor.
I e-mailed Tillis yesterday morning and got a response this morning, which was heavy on "Biden's failed border policy" nonsense. He did say something about "monitoring" the court case. I e-mailed back. However, yesterday, for the first time, I actually got through to a real live human staff member at Tillis' DC# who promised to pass on "concerns" to Tillis (I think he has heard a lot of "concerns.")
That sounds about par for the responses I've from Tillis every time I've contacted him about Trump policies. But at least the complaints are being registered.
Being in the United States without proper documents IS NOT a criminal offense. It is an infraction, similar to a traffic ticket. It IS a deportable offense, but unless these hostages have been convicted of a true crime, NONE of them deserve to be in PRISON, especially CECOT. CECOT is referred to it as a "black hole of human rights". https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-68244963
Reportedly 47,892 people in ICE detention as of March 23. Of those being held, 23,014 --or 48.1%— have no criminal record, according to data as of that date. Many more have only minor offenses, including traffic violations.
We have unprecedented action on the part of a Senator and two Representatives for one man who has put a "face" to these folks. We will not rest until they have at least been afforded the due process that was unlawfully denied them.
The tide must turn at some point, and this may be it.
The numbers 47,892 and 23,014 are breathtaking--and Trump wants 5 more prisons to be build to hold American "Homegrowns," i.e. American citizens.. This IS Nazi Germany, not a shade of! BUT yet (so far) there is a difference: the senator/ reps mentioned, AOC, Sanders, Booker, Liz Cheney and other courageous fighters like HCR, Joyce Vance, Jess Piper et al, demonstrations, protestors with signs or just standing in solidatarity, many judges present and former--excluding 6 SCOTUS, certain law firms, and now universities and colleges, not mention millions taking to the streets. You are not alone. Keep fighting, keep voting. Never give up!
Hitler got full control in 53 days. eventually with the brilliance of his henchmen, killed over 11 million of people he didn't like and unfortunately the world was silent. Roma, Jehovah's Witnesses, Masons, Clergy who called him on his acts, handicapped people, along with the primary target, Jews. Once he got started, nothing was going to stand in the way of complete cleansing of the human race of vermin and criminals and . . . us?
I hear you! Hopefully our more robust resistance movement will have the effect of blocking his steady progress as we move closer to the 2016 elections. It's exhausting but what alternative do we have?
Some of the other stories are almost as compelling as Abrego Garcia's. There was the guy whose name was wrong on the documents and the gay make-up artist. No one should be sent to a torture prison for an indefinite amount of time, with or without due process.
I've been asking about the others, too. Abrego Garcia's case is different in that there was an anti-deportation order in place for him but, as you point out, the kidnapping and deportation of everyone else violates a number of our laws. I've been trying to find out who is looking out for them, and whether they need to have individual legal representation, or if anyone is acting on behalf of all of them as a class. My understanding is that there are such efforts (advocating on behalf of all of them) under way but I don't feel that hopeful about the possibilities for their return.
I was thinking the same thing. I think perhaps by focusing on one man, the entire illegal action becomes less abstract, and if he wins his rights, it opens wide the cases for the others' rights?
It’s likely that they don’t want to cooperate on Abrego Garcia because they know that they’d have to bring back hundreds of others…including the gay Venezuelan make up artist. This is 1930s Germany for sure.
You left out the treaties we have with El Salvador.
We extradite people all the time. We also have been able to get some of our enemies, let alone our allies to release people.
I've yet to see a report mentioning our treaties with El Salvador and our extradition history with them.
BTW, the Vatican probably can't help us extradite him as they have many times when we tried to get people out of Cuba, because Bukele's father converted from Christianity to Islam in the 1980s, became an Imam, and founded four mosques in El Salvador.
We don't live in a perfect world....even if Garcia is returned, he is subject to deportation to anyplace except El Salvador.
He had a hearing befora an IJ -- Immigration Judge -- who, in effect paroled him because to return to El Salvador was to jeopardize his life.
No doubt Trump is in contempt, but the procedure could be extradition.
We have a checkered history with El Salvador. From AI
Challenges and Disputes:
There have been reports of the Salvadoran government refusing to extradite MS-13 gang leaders to the United States, despite extradition requests.
Some argue that the Salvadoran government may be protecting certain gang members, possibly in exchange for a reduction in violence.
This situation has led to tensions between the United States and El Salvador, with the U.S. government publicly pressuring El Salvador to extradite the gang leaders.
Key Points:
The extradition treaty provides a legal framework for transferring individuals to face justice in either country.
There are ongoing disputes and challenges related to the extradition of MS-13 gang leaders, with some reports suggesting that the Salvadoran government may be shielding certain individuals.
The situation has led to tensions between the two countries, with the U.S. government publicly pressuring El Salvador to comply with extradition requests
In addition to a request for mandamus, if I were the ACLU, I'd hire a civil rights lawyer in El Salvador.
From AI: In El Salvador, habeas corpus is a legal remedy to ensure personal freedom and prevent illegal detention. The Supreme Court of Justice, and in some cases the Appellate Court, are responsible for protecting constitutional rights, including habeas corpus. The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court has jurisdiction over habeas corpus claims.
We were told that originally that those who were deportedcto El Salvador had immigration judge's removal orders -- except Kilmar Abrego Garcia, where an "administrative error" was made. Do we have updated information on how many other deportees involved errors (lack of due process)? Are any of them allowed access to a lawyer? Have habeus petitions been filed?
We have gotten more humane here in the US lately, as shown by the numbers of states who have now banned the death penalty. I don't believe that we have the right to commit anyone to a sentence of death, as none of us are God. Life in an American prison is the most humane way to treat any human being, even if they ARE sadistic in their crimes. Do I want less hardened criminals roaming our streets? Of course, but they are still entitled to their day in court. The way any criminal is treated is the way you will be treated if found guilty of any crime. Let's begin by doing what we can to free Kilmar and bring him back to his loving family!!
I agree completely about banning the death penalty. We frequently hear from and about long-term prisoners who have turned their lives around. They find ways in prison to help their fellow inmates, and in many cases, help train dogs for veterans and others who need a service dog. I sincerely believe that even a most-heinous criminal can be saved under humane conditions, counseling, and opportunities for education and training. In contrast, if you want to create even worse criminals, just put them in prison with no hope for any kind of sane future.
If there is even a speck of chance the courts got it wrong, and they have, often, no one should be executed. And maybe DOGE could look at the economics, if not the humanity, it's far cheaper to house the prisoners than to execute them
And, since most of them definitely have something wrong inside their heads (or they wouldn't have committed such heinous crimes), wouldn't it make life behind bars a bit more tolerable, even for the guards and other inmates, if some kind of group therapy sessions were made available. oh, wait, he "couldn't care less!"
Someone must know a way to meet with John Roberts to discuss rescinding Trumps immunity. Trump has and is breaking so many laws even the Supreme Court must be concerned what this coup is doing
“I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting,” Roberts wrote. He said that “apart from ceremonial events, only on rare occasions in our Nation’s history has a sitting Chief Justice met with legislators, even in a public setting (such as a Committee hearing) with members of both major political parties present.”
This was Chief Justice Roberts reply when Senators Dick Durbin and Whitehouse requested a meeting.
The only way to do it is to file a motion in a case before the court. No exparte communications.
What galls me is that nobody (and that includes the minority justices) challegenge individual justices on bias. At every other level judges are in some manner voir dired for bias.
If there is a conflict, justices are supposed to disclose them on the record. 28 U.S. Code § 455 - Disqualification of justice, judge, or magistrate judge
(a)Any justice, judge, or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.
Smart! Yes I agree. If there was a case brought before the court that might be different. Chief Justice Roberts was correct to decline the invitation and Durbin and Whitehouse, while they were not exactly stupid to ask for a meeting, it was clearly naive and slightly arrogant on their part. And this was over a justice having an American flag flying upside down at his house. (Pick your battles gentlemen)
Would we like it if we found out a Republican was sneaking around skirting the proper procedure and meeting with Justice Roberts without our side being present? I don't think so. The Justices do have eyes, they are not stupid, they know on some level, no America, no job, then they'd all be like any other working stiff.
Chief Justice Roberts being head of the Judicial branch besides being responsible for the other eight justices is also responsible for its 30,000 employees employed by the Judicial branch and its own 500 staff members of the Supreme Court. He is not just hanging out in the breakroom shooting the bull with the other Justices. He is also Chancellor of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, think he noticed when Trump cut funding? I do. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery of Art, and the Joseph H. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and the National Red Cross. He knows what is happening.
I couldn't believe that there were't motions to recuse in many of the cases where there are apprent conflicts. In December 2023 Roberts did an order incorporating the judicial code. At the USDC and Cir court levels as soon as an affidavit is filed alleging bias,the burden is on the judge.
"Whenever a party to any proceeding in a district court makes and files a timely and sufficient affidavit that the judge before whom the matter is pending has a personal bias or prejudice either against him or in favor of any adverse party, such judge shall proceed no further therein, but another judge shall be assigned to hear such proceeding."
I think it educates the rest of us when such a request is made, to see what the response is and what experts have to say. Better to be a bit presumptuous than do nothing.
Actually the battle had already happened, it happened in 1989, thirty two years prior when the Supreme Court upheld a protesters right to burn the American Flag. It was a First Amendment freedom of speech decision Texas v Johnson.
Justice Alito had an American flag flying upside down at his home which signifies that our country is in distress. Justice Alito said it was his wife who raised the upside down flag right after Joe Biden had won the presidential election. The neighbors called the NYT. They interviewed Ms Alito and she said it was in response to a neighbors sign (you are complicit ) the neighbors said the flag was raised long before their sign went up when the Capitol was sacked Jan 6th.
The Senators saw the upside down flag as a dog whistle to the Stop the Steal rioters who had sacked the Capitol to come back and sack it again and cause more destruction, so they wanted a meeting with Justice Alito's boss, Chief Justice Roberts over a moot issue. Hence "pick your battles." Understand? Get it?
The Chief Justice does not have the power to curb Justice Alito's or his wife's flag habits because Justice Alito and his wife were exercising their First Amendment rights, rights that had been settled in back in 1989.
It probably should be worded "shall if he chooses to do so, and it won't antagonize his donors who have given him so much..."
Actually, it should be more transparent and honest... "shall not disqualify himself in any proceeding because his impartiality never will be questioned."
Roberts is a corrupt coward, along with the entire republican party. I didn’t capitalize on purpose. The only way to save our democracy is to take to the streets. Go on a nationwide strike, hold sit ins, they can’t put all 49 million on us in jail.
Right, because they are so pure, and only meet with large donors who give them money, free vacations, pay the tuition for a child's private schooling, buy their mother's house, and so much more. We get it!
I don't believe who the description is the behavior of Chief Justice Roberts is it? The grounds for impeachment for a Justice of the Supreme Court is the same as a
Trumps immunity is guaranteed by the very document we are all trying to protect, the Constitution.
No one can take away Trumps immunity except us, the old fashion way, we vote him out, or by the House bringing impeachment charges and the Senate finding him guilty as hell and impeaching him. There is no quick cure, there wasn't one for our forefathers either. Perseverance is the word de jour.
It cannot be done. Except privately, by people who know him. No one can/should attempt to influence a Supreme Court Justice into changing a ruling. Especially based on a disagreement with it. That can only be done through a reversal of the ruling or a reinterpretation of the law in a subsequent case. Which surely will happen. But he/they cannot simply change their mind[s]. There is no legitimate procedure for that. Maybe there should be — they certainly cd use one, but there isn’t.
I also thought that the Oval Office meeting was truly depraved. Lies, lies, lies. "Leaders" who are interested in financing prisons and throwing people away. Miller especially has no problem lying. And all the people gathered around on sofas or standing to be in the picture. Not one peep out of any of them. These are the kind of people that I have no problem calling truly un-American. I do not want any of them representing me.
My Letter to my Kentucky Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul (My calls were shorter)
TOPIC: DEMAND THE RELEASE OF KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA
Senator-
Recently, you waxed eloquent on the Senate floor about Trump’s tariffs being a HUGE mistake. They are. Now America needs you to wax even more eloquent and give an impassioned speech in defense of our Constitution and its system of Checks and Balances.
Remember saying this? “I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.” Well here’s your chance to prove it.
You barely winced when Trump gave Congress the middle finger on many matters that you should have risen to but didn’t, with the exception of his tariffs which were tanking your personal wealth as it ruined the economy.
But NOW Trump is shoving BOTH of his middle fingers up John Robert’s nose and to the rest of our Supreme Court by defying their UNANIMOUS ORDER to release Kilmar Garcia, who never committed a crime, is a legitimate resident of this nation, was never given the legal opportunity to defend himself in court and is illegally held in a prison in El Salvador. And Trump admits his imprisonment is a mistake!
THIS IS A CONSTUTIONAL CRISIS! THIS MUST NOT STAND, SENATOR! Trump cannot be allowed to become a dictator without you lifting your voice against his obvious and calculated move to usurp total power. And don’t think for one minute Americans believe the drivel he and Bukele showcased for the cameras in the oval office as an excuse for not releasing Garcia.
Maybe you will run to your corner and stay silent. Then I’m guessing you prefer living in a dictatorship? Not I. So, speak out for us, your constituents, and demand that the President release Kilmar Abrego Garcia. And while you are at it, demand the release of Rumeysa Ozturk, the Tufts University student illegally kidnapped and now held in a black hole of a Louisiana prison without access to our courts and due process.
If not, you can kiss our Constitutional Republic and the rule of law goodbye. Now it’s the foreign vulnerables. Next even American born citizens will not be exempt.
If you will not stand behind the oath you took to the Constitution and America, then you need to resign.
I hope the judge is ready and willing to charge Trump's lawyers with contempt and IMMEDIATELY jail them if they do not present evidence at the discovery hearing. No extensions, no excuses taken. Otherwise the judge will have failed in her duty to support and defend the Constitution.
Who would do that? The enforcers for a court are its bailiffs who work for --- guess who? Pam Bondi. Our system never thought of the day when the courts might issue arrest orders for the Department of Justice itself. Do you know any bailiff willing to march into that building and drag Bullshit Barbie out in manacles?
The Constitution and federal law give individual judges the right to hire other law enforcement to enact their orders if the DOJ refuses to do so or is itself the chargee.
Judge Boasberg has stated he will do this. Judge Nixis has warned she will if noncompliance continues.
We shall see. I think such a move has no precedent. We'll see if these lawless, arrogant assholes are all hat, no cattle. But ruling cliques drunk with power tend not to restrain themselves.
My problem w/ that is that the pres is defying the S. Ct. order, not the lawyers. The lawyers have no access to the information if the administration & I don’t think she has the power to jail a co-equal branch. Maybe Kristi Noem? It wd have to be someone with power. The attorneys have no power. Except to resign, whi they should en masse.
..experiencing. I am flummoxed that the thought of their pain at this cruel injustice is not enough bring my fellow Americans to their feet in protest.
It matters that we, the ‘homegrown’ are next. But it matters far more that Garcia and all these men are experiencing this now.
I am too. And I agree with everyone who is equally outraged about ALL of the 240+ immigrants hauled off illegally to El Salvador. It's not just about one person, or even just about "innocent" victims of 47's criminality. None of them were given due process, so they are all innocent in the eyes of the law, right?
We have to free them all, now. They were essentially kidnapped by the US, based on tattooes, and flown to El Salvador against a judge’s orders. By overruling that judge the court allowed Trump a gulag/concentration camp on foreign soil. There will be more, and many of us will be in them.
THIS is the Constitutional Crisis— The Supreme Court allowing these men to be imprisoned without due process, and Trump’s refusal to get them out.
On January 20, Trump took an oath to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution”. He has done anything but in these almost-three months. Why is that not an impeachable offense?
It certainly is impeachable. He’s so rotten his being born qualifies as impeachable. But his Congressional cult, both chambers, wouldn’t touch this with a gun to their heads. One of the many weaknesses built into our Constituion.
Representatives of faith communities organized a prayer vigil in support of Kilmar Abrego Garcia near the White House on Monday as Trump was meeting with the Salvadoran president. Those who spoke, both Christians and Jews, drew parallels to Holy Week, when Christ, another innocent man, was unjustly tried, convicted and crucified by ruling authorities, and the Passover story, when the plagues that were visited on Pharoah for enslaving the Israelites were also experienced by those who sat by and watched. Here's a Reuters video showing the prayers that ended the event. But you're right: the outrage needs to be bigger, louder and more prominently played by the media. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSXxL3e6Uvo
This is my letter to the editor, printed in today's Durango Herald. I hope that others will send something similar to their newspaper.
=====================================
With all of the horrible things the current administration has done in less than three months, our outrage is diluted: imposing tariffs that tank the economy and financial markets, decimating federal agencies and the exceptional federal workforce, threatening U.S. allies, and proposing budgets that will wipe out the social safety net. Even with all of that, the worst is kidnapping hundreds of people and imprisoning them in El Salvador or the U.S. How is this different than Hitler’s concentration camps, or Iran holding 53 Americans hostage for 444 days?
I’m asking Americans to rise in outrage against this violation of fundamental constitutional rights and demand that the kidnapped be returned immediately. In addition to speaking out, I’m asking everyone to limit their spending and buy only the essentials or purchases from local businesses until the kidnapped are returned. If those held have committed crimes, then charge them, let them present a defense, and let the courts decide.
Pam Bondi, you swore an oath to the constitution, and immediately broke it by expelling people without due process and by violating court orders. To Todd Lyons, (Acting Director of ICE) – if what you are doing is legal, why are your agents not wearing uniforms and abducting people at night? It’s because you and your agents are committing crimes.
Finally, I’m asking newspapers across the country to print the names of all of those kidnapped and incarcerated and tell their stories. If we look away, if we get distracted, who will be next?
I have written both of our republican senators yesterday as I have done almost weekly for the last 86 days. I also decided to write to the Supreme Court Justices of the state last night and will mail them today. They probably can do nothing, but I wanted them to know for the record how I feel.
I have never written to a Judge in my life and certainly not to the group of Kansas Supreme Court Justices, until now.
I am writing today to express my gravest concern for the rule of law and what I’m witnessing unfold with the President of the United States and the fate of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and his deportation to the El Salvadoran Cecot prison with no due process. I fear for him as if I were in his shoes, because if he can be yanked off the street and ferreted out of the country than I or anyone of us could be. If he has no justice, then we are soon to have no justice either as a people or nation.
I don’t know what you can do about this injustice, but impeachment of the President would be a just remedy I would support and recommend. My hope here is that you are getting like responses to this crisis by other constituents here in the State of Kansas and I wanted to be on the record of saying this is not justice served.
As a 76-year-old veteran I cannot be silent because I took an oath in 1967 to defend this country and what it stood for, not this.
Thank you for your service an thank you for this. I hope you don't mind if I borrow some of your eloquent phrasing for my letters to SCOTUS. There has been a push on Bluesky to flood them, but my words have felt insufficient. ❤️
Joyce, not at all. I post these writings to my Senators and now Judges to give voice to others for inspiration to write to their own constituents and representatives. I usually spend an hour or two constructing them and after reading a few comments here this morning I got inspired to change a few words to the judges. Have a good day, at least as good as can be gotten considering the times we're in.
There is a protest planned at the consulate of El Salvador in St. Paul, Minnesota this afternoon. I hope there will be many, many more nationwide to end this injustice and free the hostages.
“Democrats in Congress must do everything in their power, including running Senate filibusters to force Trump and Bukele to end this corrupt conspiracy to deprive Abrego Garcia of his liberty.” Yeah? Where are they? Crickets. Bernie and AOC are out railing against oligarchy. Where’s Schumer on this? Jeffries? Oh wait, they’re composing more “send us money” emails. I have voted straight Democratic almost my whole life, I’m so disgusted with this current bunch.
Maybe we should turn this around a bit and make it about something Trump would hate. Make a big point about how "powerless" Trump is. Say the reason Abrego Garcia isn't being returned is because Trump is powerless to do so. He has absolutely no power over the President of El Salvador, and unfortunately soon other countries will see how weak he really is. Make it all about how Trump really can't do his job.
Nobody seems to be talking about exactly who these ICE thugs are. We don't know their names or anything else about them. Who has given them the authority to snatch people off the streets and "disappear" them? Do they have a quota system?
As much as we want Kilmar Abrego Garcia freed, don't forget there are 260+ others jailed in El Salvador without due process. The abduction of people kidnapped off the street and imprisoned in a foreign land means the end of rights guaranteed since 1215 (i.e., the Magna Carta) and the 4th, 8th and 14th Amendments in our Constitution. The writ of habeas corpus, which allows individuals to challenge the legality of their detention, has a long history tied to the Magna Carta.
The 4th Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, while the 14th Due Process Clause ensures a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
As if those violations of the Constitution were not enough, the cruel and unusual punishment clause of the 8th Amendment prohibits such action inflicted by the government This amendment aims to protect individuals like Kilmar Garcia--and all other residents of the US, to be protected by the Constitution, from punishment that is excessively harsh or inhumane.
Trump has destroyed the Constitution and the Magna Carta in 84 days, with the help of cowed, cowardlyRepublicans in Congress and the SCOTUS. Shades of Nazi Germany 1930s!
Funny that you should invoke the Magna Carta. It was the first attempt to rein in the depredations of an autocratic monarch. What goes around comes around. But Kilmar is emblematic of the line that tRump and the MAGAts are drawing through our society. They place what they consider to be the GOOD people on their side and every one else on the other. The good thing is that like all fanatics, they are making the out-group much larger than the in-group. How we support and protect the out-group is the order of the day. By the way, tRump considers almost everyone reading here to be in the out group.
Tuck Frump!!
Proud and unafraid to be in that out group.
We must stand together or we will surely hang separately!
"What THEY consider to be the GOOD people on their side" = White male Western European christians. All OTHERS = expendables
"THEY" = "Deplorables" (Thank you, Hillary Clinton)
Absolutely. How clever of them to narrow our protest to Abrego - Garcia when there are hundreds of of others who were also imprisoned without due process.
It is easier to protest with one name and one face. A protest of a group makes Americans eyes glass over. They have short attention scans. Most don't care. It would be a big win. Sometimes one rock gets the avalanche rolling.
Totally, let him be the face, but we need legislation, maybe specifically designed to expose the Supreme Court as a willing partner in fascism.
They absolutely are, at least the fascist majority. He should never have been given immunity for "official" acts. This is a level of power that, to the best of my memory, no other President has sought or been granted. Thanks, for nothing guys!
We have legislation! We have laws! Those are what trump is busy destroying. He deported all of those men in violation of existing laws & is now defying court orders based on existing laws! We do not need legislation — what on earth good would that do?
just more propsed laws for Trump to veto or break
And who will be next if we don’t protest this travesty of justice?
FREE KILMAR ALBREGO GARCIA!
Bring the other hostages back to give them the due process they deserve.
Here is the list (so far) of the prisoners unjustly incarcerated at the CECOT prison in El Salvador. I have included the state from which they were abducted in the hope that pm in residents of those states will advocate with their Representatives for bringing their fellow residents back. home.
Kilmer Abrego Garcia.
Maryland
Julio Zambrano
North Carolina
Merwil Gutiérrez
Bronx, New York
Arturo Suarez Trejo
Texas
Neri Alvarado Borges
Texas
Yes. And the wanton slaughter of Palestinians by Israel/Netanyahu continues with the blessing of the U.S., something that was true under Biden as well as Trump. Biden, the President who in four years could not or would not ensure that Trump the traitor would never run again. Was Biden just weak and addled or was something more sinister going on? In any case, in part thanks to Biden, we now have Trump to deal with, and we better not shrink from the task.
No. Just no. Voters chose Trump - someone with a close relationship with Netanyahu who could be EXPECTED to do just what he has done, namely support his right-wing buddy in all respects.. They passed over the sane, reasonable candidate who should have been given a chance to forge her own path in ME policy.
As Biden's vice president she had to publicly support his position, especially when negotiations for hostages were always going on, but personally, she always expressed compassion for Gazans. And when she was forced to meet with Netanyahu that last time, there was no embrace, just a steely-eyed handshake.
And there was only one reason why Trump was allowed to run again - the Senate abrogated its duty in the impeachment. Namely, Mitch McConnell. And then they compounded the error by nominating him again and bending the knee all along the way.
Well said. Moscow Mitch is the author of this horror story.
Kavanagh was a lawyer on the Clinton impeachment and the ‘Brooks Brothers riot’ where they wrenched Florida and the Presidency out of Al Gore’s hands. Bush put John Roberts on the Supreme Court. Roberts opened the door to billionaires with Citizens United, then closed a door to voting rights with Shelby v Holder. When Scalia died Mitch took the wheel and gave Roberts the court he needed to end the Jan 6 investigation and declare Trump immune.
All good points, Janet. Don't disagree about the cowardly Republicans and two-faced Mitch. I do think if Biden had put aside his ego and allowed Kamala to run from the start she would've had a better chance. Biden was clearly not up to a second term long before he finally bowed out, under pressure.
Yes, I do agree that he should have bowed out early enough to have a proper primary.
And, I think that if Attorney Merrick Garland had done his job, Trump would be in jail. Jack Smith just didn't have enough time--given Aileen Canon's disruptions--to finish his case, which Musk probably has destroyed. It boggles my mind!
Thank you! It is the voters of this country who elected Trump. They either voted for him or they stayed home and did not vote! We all knew who he was. I have known since at least the 80s that Trump was and is a vile human being. I must admit I never thought he would be this bad or that Republicans would just roll over and play dead for him.
Where is the rule of law, due process, and the Constitution?
The U.S. Senate had TWO chances to impeachment Trump. TWO. Mitch McConnell, may he rot in hell, couldn't bothered with impeachment Trump even after January 6th.
Agreed. I think that the idea of focus on one man is a way to humanize something that can become just numbers. One thing that I suggest is that we all find out who the men are from our state and harass representatives about them, etc. For instance, I know of two men in NC who fall into this category: Julio Zambrano Perez and Arturo Suárez Trejo. I have been contacting Senators Budd and Tillis to demand that they advocate for their constituents.
Other families are now speaking out as well. I saw a story today on a 19-year-old who was sent to the El Salvidor prison, even though he was not the person ICE was seeking and had immigration papers. We need to continue adding names, even as we focus on Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/trump-admin-deports-teen-with-no-criminal-record-to-el-salvador-prison-report/ar-AA1D0cJR?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=be9f3b73ddd84d48e74db30d50de93ca&ei=47
His name is Merwil Gutieeriz.
Thanks so much!
Are you sure of the spelling? I would guess it is “Gutierez”.
I used the spelling in the story, except there should be an accent mark over the second "e," which I do not know how to do on my computer.
Please attach the reference for the story you saw. I want to compile a list of as many of these people as possible.
They MUST NOT remain nameless.
Say the names brought awareness to police brutality and BLM. We need to Say the names here. Each one created and loved by God and their families. I bet every one of us knows a "criminal" perhaps who even served time for their crime, but we would be horrified if they were shot down the rabbit hole like these men. And someone back in my dim memories I remember ICE arrested some WOMEN but found out the prison would only take men. Where are they?????
Oh, please God, NO!!
Carol--Were you able to compile a partial list? I ask because this issue has also been raised at Brian Tyler Cohen's Substack. I expect someone, somewhere has made such a list of those who are known, but I have not been able to find one.
I have only 5 names so far. They are in my comment that follows my original post. Last week was busy with choir duties for Holy Week, so I didn’t have much time to search. Only two people sent me names.
Thank you! I've posted the additional names over at the other thread. Maybe some people there will find more.
Don't know if you've seen this, but there was a great article about Julio Zambrano in The Assembly: https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/trump-venezuelan-deported-el-salvador-julio-zambrano/
I did! I included it in my e-mail to Thom Tillis. There is also this: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/03/trump-el-salvador-venezuela-deportation-prison-cecot-bukele/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJsjwdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHoCA2ZRi4YjigxUOMyPLkdgla4s_dFeFHRKt6glbkCGops2N7s5KqUV76Bn5_aem_4fKbMkWcf1aSVHrFnWs54w
Thanks for the link! I'll jump on our senate potted plants Tillis and Budd, too. Not sure how much good it will do, they're mostly non-responsive, but it's worth making noise over this!
I was stunned to learn that Tillis is one of seven Republicans who is co-sponsoring the bipartisan Grassley/Cantwell bill, The Trade Review Act of 2025, which would require congressional approval of unilateral tariffs proposed by the executive branch. I'm hoping this fissure of defiance against Trump will turn into a full-fledged rebellion!
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5236142-congress-tariff-bill-trump/
Tillis is up for reelection in the 2026 mid-terms, and he's no fool. He KNOWS how angry voters are. But he isn't wrong to support this bill. I HOPE it passes, but republicans control the senate, so they decide what bills get brought to the floor.
I e-mailed Tillis yesterday morning and got a response this morning, which was heavy on "Biden's failed border policy" nonsense. He did say something about "monitoring" the court case. I e-mailed back. However, yesterday, for the first time, I actually got through to a real live human staff member at Tillis' DC# who promised to pass on "concerns" to Tillis (I think he has heard a lot of "concerns.")
That sounds about par for the responses I've from Tillis every time I've contacted him about Trump policies. But at least the complaints are being registered.
Thanks. I am collecting these names with their states. Will list them soon.
Really great idea... how do you find the names and states of the abducted men, now prisoners?
And this: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/03/trump-el-salvador-venezuela-deportation-prison-cecot-bukele/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJsjwdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHoCA2ZRi4YjigxUOMyPLkdgla4s_dFeFHRKt6glbkCGops2N7s5KqUV76Bn5_aem_4fKbMkWcf1aSVHrFnWs54w
I found this: https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/trump-venezuelan-deported-el-salvador-julio-zambrano/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJsjshleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHlaR7NaxUWYej2ljQUn1n7jha2qenOuMR05dGoLbAO8mIv5wfZa2EEB6Tjlz_aem_L2FD0DnGIW1LtoDRT3NAZg
I've mostly just googled, to be honest.
I very much like this idea. How did you learn the names of the people from your state?
I'd like to do the same.
Google, mostly. I don't even know that my short list (of 2) is complete. I found these two articles:
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/03/trump-el-salvador-venezuela-deportation-prison-cecot-bukele/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJsjwdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHoCA2ZRi4YjigxUOMyPLkdgla4s_dFeFHRKt6glbkCGops2N7s5KqUV76Bn5_aem_4fKbMkWcf1aSVHrFnWs54w
https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/trump-venezuelan-deported-el-salvador-julio-zambrano/
YES, Larry,
FREE THE HOSTAGES NOW!
STARTING WITH
KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA!
Being in the United States without proper documents IS NOT a criminal offense. It is an infraction, similar to a traffic ticket. It IS a deportable offense, but unless these hostages have been convicted of a true crime, NONE of them deserve to be in PRISON, especially CECOT. CECOT is referred to it as a "black hole of human rights". https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-68244963
Reportedly 47,892 people in ICE detention as of March 23. Of those being held, 23,014 --or 48.1%— have no criminal record, according to data as of that date. Many more have only minor offenses, including traffic violations.
We have unprecedented action on the part of a Senator and two Representatives for one man who has put a "face" to these folks. We will not rest until they have at least been afforded the due process that was unlawfully denied them.
The tide must turn at some point, and this may be it.
The numbers 47,892 and 23,014 are breathtaking--and Trump wants 5 more prisons to be build to hold American "Homegrowns," i.e. American citizens.. This IS Nazi Germany, not a shade of! BUT yet (so far) there is a difference: the senator/ reps mentioned, AOC, Sanders, Booker, Liz Cheney and other courageous fighters like HCR, Joyce Vance, Jess Piper et al, demonstrations, protestors with signs or just standing in solidatarity, many judges present and former--excluding 6 SCOTUS, certain law firms, and now universities and colleges, not mention millions taking to the streets. You are not alone. Keep fighting, keep voting. Never give up!
Hitler got full control in 53 days. eventually with the brilliance of his henchmen, killed over 11 million of people he didn't like and unfortunately the world was silent. Roma, Jehovah's Witnesses, Masons, Clergy who called him on his acts, handicapped people, along with the primary target, Jews. Once he got started, nothing was going to stand in the way of complete cleansing of the human race of vermin and criminals and . . . us?
I hear you! Hopefully our more robust resistance movement will have the effect of blocking his steady progress as we move closer to the 2016 elections. It's exhausting but what alternative do we have?
First step is that they get lawyers!!!
I am on your team!! Excellent commentary and assessment!!!!!
Some of the other stories are almost as compelling as Abrego Garcia's. There was the guy whose name was wrong on the documents and the gay make-up artist. No one should be sent to a torture prison for an indefinite amount of time, with or without due process.
and how many are already dead?
I've been asking about the others, too. Abrego Garcia's case is different in that there was an anti-deportation order in place for him but, as you point out, the kidnapping and deportation of everyone else violates a number of our laws. I've been trying to find out who is looking out for them, and whether they need to have individual legal representation, or if anyone is acting on behalf of all of them as a class. My understanding is that there are such efforts (advocating on behalf of all of them) under way but I don't feel that hopeful about the possibilities for their return.
I was thinking the same thing. I think perhaps by focusing on one man, the entire illegal action becomes less abstract, and if he wins his rights, it opens wide the cases for the others' rights?
Exactly. That is why the Trump administration and DOJ are fighting so hard not to return him. They see it as the first domino falling.
It’s likely that they don’t want to cooperate on Abrego Garcia because they know that they’d have to bring back hundreds of others…including the gay Venezuelan make up artist. This is 1930s Germany for sure.
@ Larry McGinty:
You left out the treaties we have with El Salvador.
We extradite people all the time. We also have been able to get some of our enemies, let alone our allies to release people.
I've yet to see a report mentioning our treaties with El Salvador and our extradition history with them.
BTW, the Vatican probably can't help us extradite him as they have many times when we tried to get people out of Cuba, because Bukele's father converted from Christianity to Islam in the 1980s, became an Imam, and founded four mosques in El Salvador.
We don't live in a perfect world....even if Garcia is returned, he is subject to deportation to anyplace except El Salvador.
He had a hearing befora an IJ -- Immigration Judge -- who, in effect paroled him because to return to El Salvador was to jeopardize his life.
No doubt Trump is in contempt, but the procedure could be extradition.
https://www.oas.org/ext/Portals/33/Files/TreatiesB/USA_biltreat_elsal_eng_1.pdf
We have a checkered history with El Salvador. From AI
Challenges and Disputes:
There have been reports of the Salvadoran government refusing to extradite MS-13 gang leaders to the United States, despite extradition requests.
Some argue that the Salvadoran government may be protecting certain gang members, possibly in exchange for a reduction in violence.
This situation has led to tensions between the United States and El Salvador, with the U.S. government publicly pressuring El Salvador to extradite the gang leaders.
Key Points:
The extradition treaty provides a legal framework for transferring individuals to face justice in either country.
There are ongoing disputes and challenges related to the extradition of MS-13 gang leaders, with some reports suggesting that the Salvadoran government may be shielding certain individuals.
The situation has led to tensions between the two countries, with the U.S. government publicly pressuring El Salvador to comply with extradition requests
In addition to a request for mandamus, if I were the ACLU, I'd hire a civil rights lawyer in El Salvador.
From AI: In El Salvador, habeas corpus is a legal remedy to ensure personal freedom and prevent illegal detention. The Supreme Court of Justice, and in some cases the Appellate Court, are responsible for protecting constitutional rights, including habeas corpus. The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court has jurisdiction over habeas corpus claims.
We were told that originally that those who were deportedcto El Salvador had immigration judge's removal orders -- except Kilmar Abrego Garcia, where an "administrative error" was made. Do we have updated information on how many other deportees involved errors (lack of due process)? Are any of them allowed access to a lawyer? Have habeus petitions been filed?
We have gotten more humane here in the US lately, as shown by the numbers of states who have now banned the death penalty. I don't believe that we have the right to commit anyone to a sentence of death, as none of us are God. Life in an American prison is the most humane way to treat any human being, even if they ARE sadistic in their crimes. Do I want less hardened criminals roaming our streets? Of course, but they are still entitled to their day in court. The way any criminal is treated is the way you will be treated if found guilty of any crime. Let's begin by doing what we can to free Kilmar and bring him back to his loving family!!
I agree completely about banning the death penalty. We frequently hear from and about long-term prisoners who have turned their lives around. They find ways in prison to help their fellow inmates, and in many cases, help train dogs for veterans and others who need a service dog. I sincerely believe that even a most-heinous criminal can be saved under humane conditions, counseling, and opportunities for education and training. In contrast, if you want to create even worse criminals, just put them in prison with no hope for any kind of sane future.
If there is even a speck of chance the courts got it wrong, and they have, often, no one should be executed. And maybe DOGE could look at the economics, if not the humanity, it's far cheaper to house the prisoners than to execute them
And, since most of them definitely have something wrong inside their heads (or they wouldn't have committed such heinous crimes), wouldn't it make life behind bars a bit more tolerable, even for the guards and other inmates, if some kind of group therapy sessions were made available. oh, wait, he "couldn't care less!"
I agree. Notice Trump reinstated the Fed death penalty.
Because "he could care less"!!
Exactly my thoughts. Thank you. By focusing on just one person we forget the many others denied due process. A foundarion of our democratic rights.
💯💯💯💯💯💯
Someone must know a way to meet with John Roberts to discuss rescinding Trumps immunity. Trump has and is breaking so many laws even the Supreme Court must be concerned what this coup is doing
Dick, I have been thinking this privately for days now.The key lies in John Roberts' court and a revisiting of their prior decision.
Leonard Leo, Chair of The Federalist Society, paid a ton of money to get six conservative Catholics on SCOTUS, including John Roberts. Leo is now worth $1.6 billion. Roberts won't change anything. https://www.npr.org/2024/11/24/nx-s1-5199049/federalist-society-conservative-supreme-court
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/02/leonard-leo-federalist-society-00094761
“I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting,” Roberts wrote. He said that “apart from ceremonial events, only on rare occasions in our Nation’s history has a sitting Chief Justice met with legislators, even in a public setting (such as a Committee hearing) with members of both major political parties present.”
This was Chief Justice Roberts reply when Senators Dick Durbin and Whitehouse requested a meeting.
The only way to do it is to file a motion in a case before the court. No exparte communications.
What galls me is that nobody (and that includes the minority justices) challegenge individual justices on bias. At every other level judges are in some manner voir dired for bias.
If there is a conflict, justices are supposed to disclose them on the record. 28 U.S. Code § 455 - Disqualification of justice, judge, or magistrate judge
(a)Any justice, judge, or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.
"Shall" is supposed to be mandatory.
Smart! Yes I agree. If there was a case brought before the court that might be different. Chief Justice Roberts was correct to decline the invitation and Durbin and Whitehouse, while they were not exactly stupid to ask for a meeting, it was clearly naive and slightly arrogant on their part. And this was over a justice having an American flag flying upside down at his house. (Pick your battles gentlemen)
Would we like it if we found out a Republican was sneaking around skirting the proper procedure and meeting with Justice Roberts without our side being present? I don't think so. The Justices do have eyes, they are not stupid, they know on some level, no America, no job, then they'd all be like any other working stiff.
Chief Justice Roberts being head of the Judicial branch besides being responsible for the other eight justices is also responsible for its 30,000 employees employed by the Judicial branch and its own 500 staff members of the Supreme Court. He is not just hanging out in the breakroom shooting the bull with the other Justices. He is also Chancellor of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, think he noticed when Trump cut funding? I do. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery of Art, and the Joseph H. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and the National Red Cross. He knows what is happening.
I couldn't believe that there were't motions to recuse in many of the cases where there are apprent conflicts. In December 2023 Roberts did an order incorporating the judicial code. At the USDC and Cir court levels as soon as an affidavit is filed alleging bias,the burden is on the judge.
E.G. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/144
"Whenever a party to any proceeding in a district court makes and files a timely and sufficient affidavit that the judge before whom the matter is pending has a personal bias or prejudice either against him or in favor of any adverse party, such judge shall proceed no further therein, but another judge shall be assigned to hear such proceeding."
I think it educates the rest of us when such a request is made, to see what the response is and what experts have to say. Better to be a bit presumptuous than do nothing.
"Pick your battles, gentlemen." It would have been hard to pick battles that had not yet happened and that even pessimistic liberals did not foresee.
Actually the battle had already happened, it happened in 1989, thirty two years prior when the Supreme Court upheld a protesters right to burn the American Flag. It was a First Amendment freedom of speech decision Texas v Johnson.
Justice Alito had an American flag flying upside down at his home which signifies that our country is in distress. Justice Alito said it was his wife who raised the upside down flag right after Joe Biden had won the presidential election. The neighbors called the NYT. They interviewed Ms Alito and she said it was in response to a neighbors sign (you are complicit ) the neighbors said the flag was raised long before their sign went up when the Capitol was sacked Jan 6th.
The Senators saw the upside down flag as a dog whistle to the Stop the Steal rioters who had sacked the Capitol to come back and sack it again and cause more destruction, so they wanted a meeting with Justice Alito's boss, Chief Justice Roberts over a moot issue. Hence "pick your battles." Understand? Get it?
The Chief Justice does not have the power to curb Justice Alito's or his wife's flag habits because Justice Alito and his wife were exercising their First Amendment rights, rights that had been settled in back in 1989.
It probably should be worded "shall if he chooses to do so, and it won't antagonize his donors who have given him so much..."
Actually, it should be more transparent and honest... "shall not disqualify himself in any proceeding because his impartiality never will be questioned."
Roberts is a corrupt coward, along with the entire republican party. I didn’t capitalize on purpose. The only way to save our democracy is to take to the streets. Go on a nationwide strike, hold sit ins, they can’t put all 49 million on us in jail.
Because someone does not hold the same views as yours does not make them corrupt or a coward, it makes your characterization narrow minded and simple.
Right, because they are so pure, and only meet with large donors who give them money, free vacations, pay the tuition for a child's private schooling, buy their mother's house, and so much more. We get it!
You get exactly what you want to get.
I don't believe who the description is the behavior of Chief Justice Roberts is it? The grounds for impeachment for a Justice of the Supreme Court is the same as a
president, the remedy has always been there.
Trumps immunity is guaranteed by the very document we are all trying to protect, the Constitution.
No one can take away Trumps immunity except us, the old fashion way, we vote him out, or by the House bringing impeachment charges and the Senate finding him guilty as hell and impeaching him. There is no quick cure, there wasn't one for our forefathers either. Perseverance is the word de jour.
Does Trump have something on Robert’s??
If not, Putin does.
It cannot be done. Except privately, by people who know him. No one can/should attempt to influence a Supreme Court Justice into changing a ruling. Especially based on a disagreement with it. That can only be done through a reversal of the ruling or a reinterpretation of the law in a subsequent case. Which surely will happen. But he/they cannot simply change their mind[s]. There is no legitimate procedure for that. Maybe there should be — they certainly cd use one, but there isn’t.
I also thought that the Oval Office meeting was truly depraved. Lies, lies, lies. "Leaders" who are interested in financing prisons and throwing people away. Miller especially has no problem lying. And all the people gathered around on sofas or standing to be in the picture. Not one peep out of any of them. These are the kind of people that I have no problem calling truly un-American. I do not want any of them representing me.
what scare me most is that people laughed at the comments the two presidents made as if they were talking about pizza or baseball, not human lives.
And please note that Liddell Marco Rubio is a whore. If there was previously any doubt.
My Letter to my Kentucky Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul (My calls were shorter)
TOPIC: DEMAND THE RELEASE OF KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA
Senator-
Recently, you waxed eloquent on the Senate floor about Trump’s tariffs being a HUGE mistake. They are. Now America needs you to wax even more eloquent and give an impassioned speech in defense of our Constitution and its system of Checks and Balances.
Remember saying this? “I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.” Well here’s your chance to prove it.
You barely winced when Trump gave Congress the middle finger on many matters that you should have risen to but didn’t, with the exception of his tariffs which were tanking your personal wealth as it ruined the economy.
But NOW Trump is shoving BOTH of his middle fingers up John Robert’s nose and to the rest of our Supreme Court by defying their UNANIMOUS ORDER to release Kilmar Garcia, who never committed a crime, is a legitimate resident of this nation, was never given the legal opportunity to defend himself in court and is illegally held in a prison in El Salvador. And Trump admits his imprisonment is a mistake!
THIS IS A CONSTUTIONAL CRISIS! THIS MUST NOT STAND, SENATOR! Trump cannot be allowed to become a dictator without you lifting your voice against his obvious and calculated move to usurp total power. And don’t think for one minute Americans believe the drivel he and Bukele showcased for the cameras in the oval office as an excuse for not releasing Garcia.
Maybe you will run to your corner and stay silent. Then I’m guessing you prefer living in a dictatorship? Not I. So, speak out for us, your constituents, and demand that the President release Kilmar Abrego Garcia. And while you are at it, demand the release of Rumeysa Ozturk, the Tufts University student illegally kidnapped and now held in a black hole of a Louisiana prison without access to our courts and due process.
If not, you can kiss our Constitutional Republic and the rule of law goodbye. Now it’s the foreign vulnerables. Next even American born citizens will not be exempt.
If you will not stand behind the oath you took to the Constitution and America, then you need to resign.
Thank you, Margaret!
This is perfect; thank you!!
May we use this for our own representatives?
I hope the judge is ready and willing to charge Trump's lawyers with contempt and IMMEDIATELY jail them if they do not present evidence at the discovery hearing. No extensions, no excuses taken. Otherwise the judge will have failed in her duty to support and defend the Constitution.
Who would do that? The enforcers for a court are its bailiffs who work for --- guess who? Pam Bondi. Our system never thought of the day when the courts might issue arrest orders for the Department of Justice itself. Do you know any bailiff willing to march into that building and drag Bullshit Barbie out in manacles?
The Constitution and federal law give individual judges the right to hire other law enforcement to enact their orders if the DOJ refuses to do so or is itself the chargee.
Judge Boasberg has stated he will do this. Judge Nixis has warned she will if noncompliance continues.
We shall see. I think such a move has no precedent. We'll see if these lawless, arrogant assholes are all hat, no cattle. But ruling cliques drunk with power tend not to restrain themselves.
My problem w/ that is that the pres is defying the S. Ct. order, not the lawyers. The lawyers have no access to the information if the administration & I don’t think she has the power to jail a co-equal branch. Maybe Kristi Noem? It wd have to be someone with power. The attorneys have no power. Except to resign, whi they should en masse.
I can only only imagine the fear and suffering the political prisoners in this El Salvadoran must be e periencing.
..experiencing. I am flummoxed that the thought of their pain at this cruel injustice is not enough bring my fellow Americans to their feet in protest.
It matters that we, the ‘homegrown’ are next. But it matters far more that Garcia and all these men are experiencing this now.
I am making this my focus in the No Kings protest on April 19. Maybe others will too!
I am too. And I agree with everyone who is equally outraged about ALL of the 240+ immigrants hauled off illegally to El Salvador. It's not just about one person, or even just about "innocent" victims of 47's criminality. None of them were given due process, so they are all innocent in the eyes of the law, right?
And the families of these wrongfully deported detained men. Who is next?
We have to free them all, now. They were essentially kidnapped by the US, based on tattooes, and flown to El Salvador against a judge’s orders. By overruling that judge the court allowed Trump a gulag/concentration camp on foreign soil. There will be more, and many of us will be in them.
THIS is the Constitutional Crisis— The Supreme Court allowing these men to be imprisoned without due process, and Trump’s refusal to get them out.
Does "homegrown" mean anyone who objects to any PINO policy? I said he was dangerous in 2016. To quote Churchill, the first one to use it, OMG.
On January 20, Trump took an oath to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution”. He has done anything but in these almost-three months. Why is that not an impeachable offense?
It certainly is impeachable. He’s so rotten his being born qualifies as impeachable. But his Congressional cult, both chambers, wouldn’t touch this with a gun to their heads. One of the many weaknesses built into our Constituion.
Never put his hand on that bible. As many have said. Would have burst into flames 🔥.
Maybe he thinks he didn't actually "take" that oath because his hand was not ON the bible?
Representatives of faith communities organized a prayer vigil in support of Kilmar Abrego Garcia near the White House on Monday as Trump was meeting with the Salvadoran president. Those who spoke, both Christians and Jews, drew parallels to Holy Week, when Christ, another innocent man, was unjustly tried, convicted and crucified by ruling authorities, and the Passover story, when the plagues that were visited on Pharoah for enslaving the Israelites were also experienced by those who sat by and watched. Here's a Reuters video showing the prayers that ended the event. But you're right: the outrage needs to be bigger, louder and more prominently played by the media. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSXxL3e6Uvo
Didn't see anywhere in the media.
thank you for the link. These are times of Biblical proportion, speaking truth to Empire.
This is my letter to the editor, printed in today's Durango Herald. I hope that others will send something similar to their newspaper.
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With all of the horrible things the current administration has done in less than three months, our outrage is diluted: imposing tariffs that tank the economy and financial markets, decimating federal agencies and the exceptional federal workforce, threatening U.S. allies, and proposing budgets that will wipe out the social safety net. Even with all of that, the worst is kidnapping hundreds of people and imprisoning them in El Salvador or the U.S. How is this different than Hitler’s concentration camps, or Iran holding 53 Americans hostage for 444 days?
I’m asking Americans to rise in outrage against this violation of fundamental constitutional rights and demand that the kidnapped be returned immediately. In addition to speaking out, I’m asking everyone to limit their spending and buy only the essentials or purchases from local businesses until the kidnapped are returned. If those held have committed crimes, then charge them, let them present a defense, and let the courts decide.
Pam Bondi, you swore an oath to the constitution, and immediately broke it by expelling people without due process and by violating court orders. To Todd Lyons, (Acting Director of ICE) – if what you are doing is legal, why are your agents not wearing uniforms and abducting people at night? It’s because you and your agents are committing crimes.
Finally, I’m asking newspapers across the country to print the names of all of those kidnapped and incarcerated and tell their stories. If we look away, if we get distracted, who will be next?
I have written both of our republican senators yesterday as I have done almost weekly for the last 86 days. I also decided to write to the Supreme Court Justices of the state last night and will mail them today. They probably can do nothing, but I wanted them to know for the record how I feel.
Ref: Justice for Kilmar Abrego Garcia
Justice Stegall, Justice Rosen, Justice Wilson, Justice Wall, Justice Luckert, and Justice Standridge,
I have never written to a Judge in my life and certainly not to the group of Kansas Supreme Court Justices, until now.
I am writing today to express my gravest concern for the rule of law and what I’m witnessing unfold with the President of the United States and the fate of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and his deportation to the El Salvadoran Cecot prison with no due process. I fear for him as if I were in his shoes, because if he can be yanked off the street and ferreted out of the country than I or anyone of us could be. If he has no justice, then we are soon to have no justice either as a people or nation.
I don’t know what you can do about this injustice, but impeachment of the President would be a just remedy I would support and recommend. My hope here is that you are getting like responses to this crisis by other constituents here in the State of Kansas and I wanted to be on the record of saying this is not justice served.
As a 76-year-old veteran I cannot be silent because I took an oath in 1967 to defend this country and what it stood for, not this.
Thank you for listening to my concern.
Thank you for your service an thank you for this. I hope you don't mind if I borrow some of your eloquent phrasing for my letters to SCOTUS. There has been a push on Bluesky to flood them, but my words have felt insufficient. ❤️
Joyce, not at all. I post these writings to my Senators and now Judges to give voice to others for inspiration to write to their own constituents and representatives. I usually spend an hour or two constructing them and after reading a few comments here this morning I got inspired to change a few words to the judges. Have a good day, at least as good as can be gotten considering the times we're in.
There is a protest planned at the consulate of El Salvador in St. Paul, Minnesota this afternoon. I hope there will be many, many more nationwide to end this injustice and free the hostages.
He is one example - no one is talking at all about the more than two hundred others.
“Democrats in Congress must do everything in their power, including running Senate filibusters to force Trump and Bukele to end this corrupt conspiracy to deprive Abrego Garcia of his liberty.” Yeah? Where are they? Crickets. Bernie and AOC are out railing against oligarchy. Where’s Schumer on this? Jeffries? Oh wait, they’re composing more “send us money” emails. I have voted straight Democratic almost my whole life, I’m so disgusted with this current bunch.
Maybe we should turn this around a bit and make it about something Trump would hate. Make a big point about how "powerless" Trump is. Say the reason Abrego Garcia isn't being returned is because Trump is powerless to do so. He has absolutely no power over the President of El Salvador, and unfortunately soon other countries will see how weak he really is. Make it all about how Trump really can't do his job.
Nobody seems to be talking about exactly who these ICE thugs are. We don't know their names or anything else about them. Who has given them the authority to snatch people off the streets and "disappear" them? Do they have a quota system?
Didn't trump set a number in the millions?