Right. If we said to El Salvador, "we're not going to pay you to hold Mr. Garcia any longer, turn him over to the US Embassy", I bet they'd hand him over that same day.
No doubt it’s an ongoing contract at an exorbitant amount per human head to maintain people from America in their custody. It’s like every other private prison agreement, it is a contract and it is controlled by contract law.
Exactly. Biden had people returned from foreign prisons. Trump can’t do it when OUR TAXES are paying?? Why does anyone even pretend what he says might be true?
I’m sorry but I don’t buy any of this! I do not trust this government and frankly, neither should anyone else! The only thing I would trust in this case is visual proof of life. This government is corrupt and would not hesitate to threaten people in this government, to do as they are told or face dire consequences. We need proof of life and not just a piece of paper!
Yes. OK. And Judge Xinis can ask for the embassy official to give a declaration, for example, if she wants. I’m not going to keep going through this because I’m sick and need to take the night off, but, ultimately, your questions are going to end at “he needs to come home,” which I obviously agree with. It is fine to not accept anything short of that, but just say that. I agree!
That said, my job is also to report reality. And this is a significant development. You know why? They have avoided saying it every day since March 15 until now.
No criticism of you. I’m just at the point where there have been so many lies and loopholes in the Trump administration’s explanations that I have trouble believing anything. Yes, it’s good that a trusted source can verify that he’s been told that he’s alive, and I’m glad to hear it because the alternative is awful. It’s the old « fool me once….” though….
I’m sorry to hear you are sick & hope you feel better quickly. Take care of yourself. I appreciate your posts because they are factual and truthful and translate what is going on in terms that I can understand. You are on the side of the “good”. Thank you.
It’s absolutely news worthy and very important. I know the individual is a longtime employee but it is not beneath DJT and his hoods, to threaten anyone, and their families, who doesn’t cover his a$$.
What continues to concern me is the government's argument that, once someone is in CECOT, they are no longer under the jurisdiction of the United States, and therefore unable to be brought back via non-diplomatic channels.
Given Trump has said he'd like to house Americans convicted of crimes in foreign prisons, and given their arguments in this case, this gives me great pause as it effectively turns being taken by our government into a one-way ticket.
That's not rule of law or due process in any way, shape, or form. That's truly disappearing people. And given the continued descent further into fascist authoritarianism, it paints a truly bleak picture, of how life will be in the United States moving forward, for ALL of us.
Maybe if El Salvador didn’t get the six (?) million dollars unless he is promptly returned, they would be happy to send him back. Or we could always send Kristi Noem back down there with her flak jacket & rifle to spring him.
110% agree with Nancy Criscuolo that « official reporting » doesn’t make it so. Unless someone who actually saw him could testified under oath that he is alive & well, it’s all weasel words.
Have some questions: 1. What department is funding this 6 million? (Your tax dollars at work?), and 2. What about the rest of the men that were kidnapped with no chance to prove their innocence?
Trade the puppy killer and the dimwit attorney general for the ones in prison. Once those two slimewads experienced the conditions (if they survived), they might start taking the law more seriously.
Didn’t one of The Idiot’s minions say that the US paid El Salvador to take these people? I don’t believe for a second the US has no control on getting these prisoners back. This is so awful and I fear for us all. 😡
Karoline Leavitt... "It was approximately $6 million, to El Salvador, for the detention of these foreign terrorists. And I would point out that is pennies on the dollar in comparison to the cost of life, and the cost it would impose on the American taxpayer to house these terrorists in maximum security prisons here in the United States of America."
I’m probably repeating other comments but proof of life is usually something beyond a mere declaration by a State Department official. It does not show that he has seen him or confirmed his continued existence or state of being.
Second, the very argument that he is under the authority of El Salvador and there's nothing more we can do about is risible. We are paying the bill for his imprisonment and if we applied diplomatic pressure, he would be free in a moment.
Finally I’m worried that his imprisonment and potential freedom will come with such a potential cost to the Mad King, that his freedom and the the publicity that would accompany it makes this release and return ever more tenuous.
The longer this goes on, the more tenuous it become. Welcome to Kafka’s world.
This is the largest threat any of us face in this whole messed up authoritarian situation. For all the administration's terrible actions, rulings, firings, and oversteps, the most dangerous part is that they have a prison they can now send anybody they want to "disappear" and can claim that they have no jurisdiction to get them back. If this is allowed to stand, ALL people in America who in any way offend this fascist regime run the risk of being permanently removed from society. They aren't removing US citizens yet... but they're slowly working towards it.
As I tried to make clear in the piece and have said elsewhere, that is not really news. We have known that argument.
Yes, it’s alarming (and a bad argument), but that’s the whole point of this effort for them — trying to claim that people put there are beyond the reach of U.S. law. They might have some additional argument because of his nationality, but it’s essentially the same as what we’ve been hearing since March 15 and the Alien Enemies Act cases.
If the U.S. government is taking people and putting them beyond the reach of U.S. law, then legal recourse is only available BEFORE they are kidnapped. Which is exactly the point. And the argument is exactly the same if the person disappeared is a U.S. citizen. I would like to know what exactly the Chief Justice (more and more the court's median) thinks he can do about it.
That is, in fact, DOJ’s argument. It is a bad argument, and should fail. That, though, is precisely why lawyers are fighting in court every day about this.
What kind of tinpot dictator is the US president that we are discussing the US government needing to provide "proof of life" for a legal US resident with no criminal history whatsoever they illegally sent to a penal colony in another country? I truly cannot believe that this is the country both my parents fought for.
The outrage continues. They’re saying the United States and its “all-powerful Great Leader” is unable to exert influence over a third-world country that we’re paying to house these prisoners?!?! Bollocks!
But the US is paying ElSalvador so their Sovereignty doesn’t make sense.
I mean, sure. This, again, is what is being argued out in court. They’re wrong. Are you shocked?
Right. If we said to El Salvador, "we're not going to pay you to hold Mr. Garcia any longer, turn him over to the US Embassy", I bet they'd hand him over that same day.
I've thought of that. What proportion of what is being paid is to hold HIM?. Has it been paid in a lump sum, or are there further payments to make?
No doubt it’s an ongoing contract at an exorbitant amount per human head to maintain people from America in their custody. It’s like every other private prison agreement, it is a contract and it is controlled by contract law.
well, we know how well trumP complies with contract law.
You expect logic from these sleazebags?
*snork*
I've been thinking the same thing, but have yet to see that point raised in any of the news reports.
Exactly. Biden had people returned from foreign prisons. Trump can’t do it when OUR TAXES are paying?? Why does anyone even pretend what he says might be true?
They're paying EL Salvador to be the scapegoat for why they don't have to ever bring anyone back from the death camps there.
Maybe Trumpwad could tell Bukelé to send Garcia back else we re-name his country El America.
I’m sorry but I don’t buy any of this! I do not trust this government and frankly, neither should anyone else! The only thing I would trust in this case is visual proof of life. This government is corrupt and would not hesitate to threaten people in this government, to do as they are told or face dire consequences. We need proof of life and not just a piece of paper!
I mean, I get it. That’s ultimately the whole point of the litigation and why the piece ends how it ends.
That said, this is a longtime State Dep’t employee — Google him — who is not just making this up. It is newsworthy, and important.
I don’t question Michael J. Kozak, but he didn’t personally see him. He is relying on another person’s affirmation.
Yes. OK. And Judge Xinis can ask for the embassy official to give a declaration, for example, if she wants. I’m not going to keep going through this because I’m sick and need to take the night off, but, ultimately, your questions are going to end at “he needs to come home,” which I obviously agree with. It is fine to not accept anything short of that, but just say that. I agree!
That said, my job is also to report reality. And this is a significant development. You know why? They have avoided saying it every day since March 15 until now.
No criticism of you. I’m just at the point where there have been so many lies and loopholes in the Trump administration’s explanations that I have trouble believing anything. Yes, it’s good that a trusted source can verify that he’s been told that he’s alive, and I’m glad to hear it because the alternative is awful. It’s the old « fool me once….” though….
I’m sorry to hear you are sick & hope you feel better quickly. Take care of yourself. I appreciate your posts because they are factual and truthful and translate what is going on in terms that I can understand. You are on the side of the “good”. Thank you.
In addition, there are no dates or document identifiers attached to the statements. Hearsay that at some time in the past Abrego Garcia was alive.
It’s absolutely news worthy and very important. I know the individual is a longtime employee but it is not beneath DJT and his hoods, to threaten anyone, and their families, who doesn’t cover his a$$.
I appreciate the explanation here Chris.
What continues to concern me is the government's argument that, once someone is in CECOT, they are no longer under the jurisdiction of the United States, and therefore unable to be brought back via non-diplomatic channels.
Given Trump has said he'd like to house Americans convicted of crimes in foreign prisons, and given their arguments in this case, this gives me great pause as it effectively turns being taken by our government into a one-way ticket.
That's not rule of law or due process in any way, shape, or form. That's truly disappearing people. And given the continued descent further into fascist authoritarianism, it paints a truly bleak picture, of how life will be in the United States moving forward, for ALL of us.
This exactly.
Maybe if El Salvador didn’t get the six (?) million dollars unless he is promptly returned, they would be happy to send him back. Or we could always send Kristi Noem back down there with her flak jacket & rifle to spring him.
110% agree with Nancy Criscuolo that « official reporting » doesn’t make it so. Unless someone who actually saw him could testified under oath that he is alive & well, it’s all weasel words.
Have some questions: 1. What department is funding this 6 million? (Your tax dollars at work?), and 2. What about the rest of the men that were kidnapped with no chance to prove their innocence?
Trade the puppy killer and the dimwit attorney general for the ones in prison. Once those two slimewads experienced the conditions (if they survived), they might start taking the law more seriously.
Didn’t one of The Idiot’s minions say that the US paid El Salvador to take these people? I don’t believe for a second the US has no control on getting these prisoners back. This is so awful and I fear for us all. 😡
Karoline Leavitt... "It was approximately $6 million, to El Salvador, for the detention of these foreign terrorists. And I would point out that is pennies on the dollar in comparison to the cost of life, and the cost it would impose on the American taxpayer to house these terrorists in maximum security prisons here in the United States of America."
She is such a filthy, repugnant creature
I don't understand how we can just ship people to a foreign prison.
Especially with the reputation that this hellhole has.
I’m probably repeating other comments but proof of life is usually something beyond a mere declaration by a State Department official. It does not show that he has seen him or confirmed his continued existence or state of being.
Second, the very argument that he is under the authority of El Salvador and there's nothing more we can do about is risible. We are paying the bill for his imprisonment and if we applied diplomatic pressure, he would be free in a moment.
Finally I’m worried that his imprisonment and potential freedom will come with such a potential cost to the Mad King, that his freedom and the the publicity that would accompany it makes this release and return ever more tenuous.
The longer this goes on, the more tenuous it become. Welcome to Kafka’s world.
Quoting Trump was brilliant. But I'm afraid we're past Constitutional crisis time now. The lawless are in control.
It’s time to start jailing tRump’s lawyers!
This is the largest threat any of us face in this whole messed up authoritarian situation. For all the administration's terrible actions, rulings, firings, and oversteps, the most dangerous part is that they have a prison they can now send anybody they want to "disappear" and can claim that they have no jurisdiction to get them back. If this is allowed to stand, ALL people in America who in any way offend this fascist regime run the risk of being permanently removed from society. They aren't removing US citizens yet... but they're slowly working towards it.
Do we really trust the State Department? Let's ask for proof of life.
The last line worries me. Are they going stand on they can't do any because that's his home country?
As I tried to make clear in the piece and have said elsewhere, that is not really news. We have known that argument.
Yes, it’s alarming (and a bad argument), but that’s the whole point of this effort for them — trying to claim that people put there are beyond the reach of U.S. law. They might have some additional argument because of his nationality, but it’s essentially the same as what we’ve been hearing since March 15 and the Alien Enemies Act cases.
If the U.S. government is taking people and putting them beyond the reach of U.S. law, then legal recourse is only available BEFORE they are kidnapped. Which is exactly the point. And the argument is exactly the same if the person disappeared is a U.S. citizen. I would like to know what exactly the Chief Justice (more and more the court's median) thinks he can do about it.
That is, in fact, DOJ’s argument. It is a bad argument, and should fail. That, though, is precisely why lawyers are fighting in court every day about this.
Right. Ultimately SCOTUS has to have an answer and then we have to hope the administration complies in advance next time.
I hope Garcia’s family sues the pants off of ICE and the Convicted Felon’s administration over the pain and suffering they’ve endured.
What kind of tinpot dictator is the US president that we are discussing the US government needing to provide "proof of life" for a legal US resident with no criminal history whatsoever they illegally sent to a penal colony in another country? I truly cannot believe that this is the country both my parents fought for.
The outrage continues. They’re saying the United States and its “all-powerful Great Leader” is unable to exert influence over a third-world country that we’re paying to house these prisoners?!?! Bollocks!
.thanx for the info; what are the odds of this govt's state dept now disclosing the details of the usa's contract with the govt of el salvador?
Slim to none?