Key Takeaways:
- Stephen Miller, a top Trump aide, is accused of worsening President Trump’s declining popularity.
- A Maryland father, Kilmar Ábrego García, was wrongly deported to a dangerous prison in El Salvador due to a clerical error.
- The Trump administration defended the mistake by releasing old legal documents and making gang allegations.
- Miller blamed a Justice Department lawyer, Erez Reuveni, for the error, leading to Reuveni’s removal from duty.
- Miller and Trump falsely claimed victory in a Supreme Court case related to Ábrego García’s deportation.
Trump’s Popularity Plummets Amid Controversy
President Donald Trump is facing a sharp decline in public trust and approval, and two experts say they know who’s to blame: his top aide, Stephen Miller. Joshua Kolb and Susan Corke, experts fighting to protect American democracy, wrote a column highlighting how Miller’s actions are damaging Trump’s image.
At the center of the controversy is the case of Kilmar Ábrego García, a Maryland father who was mistakenly deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador. The government admitted the deportation was a clerical error, but the Trump administration has tried to justify it by releasing old legal documents and claiming Ábrego García is part of a gang.
The Role of Stephen Miller in the Scandal
Kolb and Corke argue that Stephen Miller, known for his hardline immigration policies, is the mastermind behind this mess. They claim Miller’s aggressive push to meet deportation targets has led to reckless decisions, even when it means ignoring court orders.
“Stephen Miller’s draconian deportation goals have caused chaos,” Kolb and Corke wrote. They say Miller’s actions are directly responsible for the wrongful deportation of Ábrego García.
When the issue came to light, Miller denied any mistakes. He claimed Ábrego García was no longer eligible for immigration relief because Trump had labeled MS-13, a gang Ábrego García was accused of joining, a foreign terrorist organization.
However, the Supreme Court ruled against the Trump administration, ordering Ábrego García’s release from custody in El Salvador. The court made it clear that Ábrego García’s deportation was illegal and that the government must fix the situation.
Miller’s Misleading Claims
Despite the court’s ruling, Miller and Trump have tried to spin the situation in their favor. Miller told Fox News, “We won the Supreme Court case, clearly, 9-0.” Trump echoed this in a Time magazine interview, saying, “That’s not what my people told me—they said it was something entirely different.”
But the reality is far from a victory. The Supreme Court did not side with Trump; instead, it ordered the administration to correct its mistake.
Kolb and Corke describe Miller’s actions as “brazen misrepresentation.” They believe Trump has either been misled by Miller or is trying to obscure the truth.
The Fallout for the Justice Department Lawyer
As the scandal grew, Miller shifted the blame to a Justice Department lawyer, Erez Reuveni. Reuveni, a 15-year veteran of the immigration division, admitted the deportation was an error. But instead of taking responsibility, Miller accused Reuveni of being a “saboteur” and a Democrat who intentionally misled the court.
Reuveni has since been removed from his duties, while others who made similar arguments remain in their positions. This move has raised questions about whether Miller is using the situation to purge officials who disagree with him.
The Larger Picture
Kolb and Corke see this scandal as part of a bigger pattern. They argue that Miller and Trump are struggling to fulfill their promises, leading to desperate attempts to cover up mistakes.
“Their obsession with extreme deportation policies has backfired,” the experts wrote. “This case is just one example of how their approach has led to chaos and harm.”
For now, the situation remains unresolved. Ábrego García is still in El Salvador, and his future in the U.S. hangs in the balance. Meanwhile, Trump’s administration continues to face criticism for its handling of immigration issues.
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