Washington, D.C., April 15, 2025 – A viral X post today captured widespread alarm over the Trump administration’s refusal to comply with a unanimous 9-0 Supreme Court ruling, stating, “The Trump administration refusing to enforce a 9-0 Supreme Court order against violations of due process is the thing… if this goes through democracy is dead!” The controversy centers on Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father deported to El Salvador despite a court order protecting him.
The Supreme Court ruled last week that the U.S. must “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return after his March 15 deportation to El Salvador’s CECOT mega-prison. Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant who lived in the U.S. for 15 years, had a 2019 immigration court order barring his deportation due to gang threats against him and his family’s pupusa business. The Trump administration initially admitted the deportation was an “administrative error” but later claimed he was an MS-13 member—a charge his lawyers and family deny, as he has no criminal record.
During a White House meeting on April 14 with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, both leaders rejected calls to return Abrego Garcia. Bukele labeled him a “terrorist” and refused to release him, even within El Salvador, while Trump supported Bukele, dismissing CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins’ questions and framing the decision as keeping “criminals” out. This defiance of the Supreme Court’s order has raised alarms among legal experts, who argue it undermines due process and the rule of law.
The X post reflects growing fears of democratic backsliding in Trump’s second term, with its warning that “fascism won’t announce when it’s happened, but this is it.” Public reaction on X is divided—users like
@JusticeForAll call it “a direct attack on judicial authority,” while others, such as
@MAGAWarrior, defend Trump, arguing the court overstepped on immigration. The administration’s stance comes amid broader tensions over its mass deportation policies, which have intensified since a January 2025 national emergency declaration at the southern border.
As of April 15, Abrego Garcia remains in CECOT, with no action taken to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling. The incident has fueled debates over the erosion of democratic norms, with critics warning that ignoring judicial mandates sets a dangerous precedent for executive overreach in Trump’s America.
