(NewsNation) — Despite the case of a man wrongly deported to his native El Salvador just brought before the Supreme Court, former Trump White House Cabinet Secretary William McGinley believes it is headed back there.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled the Trump administration must begin the process of releasing Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and “ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador.”
The justices did not say exactly what Abrego Garcia’s release would entail or how he would return to the U.S.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ordered the Trump administration to provide daily updates on how they were facilitating Abrego Garcia’s return. It came amidst the Justice Department’s lawyer admitting they did not have information to provide on his whereabouts.
“The president of the United States, under Article Two, is the Chief Executive Officer, the commander in chief and the chief magistrate,” McGinley said on “The Hill.”
“All of that gives him plenary authority over international relations. This is not a US citizen. Ice and others had determined that he may have been a gang member, or was a gang member, which is how he got deported in the first place.”
McGinley believes information on Abrego Garcia’s whereabouts will eventually be provided. However, both he and NewsNation legal contributor Jesse Weber believe it isn’t a priority for the White House.
“Assuming he wasn’t Abrego Garcia, assuming he was somebody else that the Trump administration really wanted back, I think they would have figured out a way to ultimately make it happen,” Weber said.