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Culture War Roundup for the week of March 31, 2025

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I think the redressability argument makes sense. At most, they can order DHS/CPB that, if the plaintiff presents himself at the border, they must admit him.

On October 10, 2019, an IJ ordered Abrego-Garcia’s removal from the United States but granted withholding of removal to El Salvador pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(A). This grant of protection prohibited his removal to El Salvador.

So to actually read the operative statute it says

  • (A) In general Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), the Attorney General may not remove an alien to a country if the Attorney General decides that the alien's life or freedom would be threatened in that country because of the alien's race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
  • (B) Exception Subparagraph (A) does not apply to an alien deportable under section 1227(a)(4)(D) of this title or if the Attorney General decides that-
    • (i) the alien ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in the persecution of an individual because of the individual's race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion;
    • (ii) the alien, having been convicted by a final judgment of a particularly serious crime is a danger to the community of the United States;
    • (iii) there are serious reasons to believe that the alien committed a serious nonpolitical crime outside the United States before the alien arrived in the United States; or
    • (iv) there are reasonable grounds to believe that the alien is a danger to the security of the United States.

It doesn't seem clear to me that the AG couldn't invoke 1231(b)(3)(B)(iv), which essentially vest in her the plenary power to make an exception to (A).

Then specifically, look at the date of the order, October 10, 2019, who was AG on that date?

The whole thing is ridiculous kayfabe. Trump's AG, by the very terms of the statute, could have ordered him back to ES 5 years ago.