During a White House press briefing, U.S. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed recent controversy surrounding the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, emphasizing that he is not a “Maryland father” as some reports have claimed. Leavitt stated that Garcia is “an illegal alien, MS-13 gang member and foreign terrorist who was deported back to his home country,” referring to El Salvador.

Leavitt elaborated that when Garcia was arrested, he was wearing a sweatshirt bearing what she described as a “known MS-13 gang symbol.” According to her statement, “two separate judges found that Abrego was a member of MS-13 and that finding has never been disputed.”

She made it clear that if Garcia ever returns to the United States, “he would immediately be deported again.”

The deportation has sparked political and legal debate, particularly after it was initially reported as a clerical error. Critics labeled Garcia as a wrongly deported “Maryland father,” which the White House has firmly denied, citing security concerns and gang affiliations.

Adding to the legal dimension, U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts earlier this month delayed the midnight deadline imposed on President Donald Trump’s administration to bring Garcia back to the United States. The Supreme Court’s involvement has elevated the case’s national attention, intersecting immigration enforcement with judicial scrutiny.

The White House continues to defend the deportation as appropriate and aligned with national security policy under President Trump’s leadership. The administration maintains that MS-13 gang members and foreign terrorists will be removed and prevented from re-entering the country under any circumstance.

As the legal process develops, the case remains a flashpoint in the ongoing national debate over immigration, enforcement errors, and judicial oversight in President Trump’s second term.