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The Importance of Due Process: Discussing the Quilmar Ábrego García Case
This morning, I had the pleasure of discussing an important and complex immigration issue on Noticias 670 Edición Matutina with hosts Aaron Glantz and Eduardo Alemán. We examined the highly politicized case of Quilmar Ábrego García, a Salvadoran national who was deported under the Alien Enemies Act without receiving proper due process.
In this interview, I emphasized that while our country has a legitimate interest in keeping dangerous individuals out, we must never compromise our constitutional values—particularly the fundamental right to due process. The Supreme Court has clearly stated that the government must demonstrate evidence of a person’s affiliation with terrorist or criminal organizations before deportation. However, in this specific case, the government has repeatedly failed to provide sufficient proof, which has raised concerns of constitutional violations.
This situation underscores a critical issue: the risk we face when laws are applied without adequate oversight. Today it’s Ábrego García, but tomorrow it could be someone else closer to us. Upholding constitutional guarantees isn’t optional—it’s essential to our democracy.
We also discussed practical advice for immigrants who have upcoming immigration court dates. I urged individuals to seek legal counsel and follow their attorney’s recommendations to navigate these stressful situations safely.
Stay informed and protected. If you or someone you know needs immigration advice, please call my office directly at 305-233-3310.
ORIGINAL TRANSCRIPT:
Noticias 670 Edición Matutina con Aaron Glantz y Eduardo Alemán
Host:
Amigos, vamos a hablar de inmigración, y para ello tenemos en línea telefónica a una abogada experta en este tema. Ella es Martha Arias. Abogada Arias, buenos días. Gracias por estar con nosotros.
Abogada Martha L. Arias:
Buenos días, Eduardo y Aaron. Un saludo para ustedes. Feliz mitad de semana, como digo siempre.
Host:
Bienvenida, bienvenida. Muchísimas gracias nuevamente por conversar con nosotros. Empecemos hablando sobre un caso que ha tomado tintes políticos: el caso de Quilmar Ábrego García. Quiero recordar primero palabras de la Fiscal General Pam Bondi y también de Stephen Miller, asesor del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional, respondiendo preguntas de una periodista de CNN durante la reunión del presidente Donald Trump con el presidente salvadoreño Nayib Bukele. Entró ilegalmente al país, tenía una orden de deportación, se le considera miembro de la MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha), que es considerada una organización terrorista, y por ese hecho no tiene ningún beneficio migratorio. En términos generales, esa fue la posición tanto de Pam Bondi como de Stephen Miller. Quisiera escuchar la opinión de la abogada Martha Arias sobre este caso específico de Ábrego García.
Abogada Martha L. Arias:
Sí, muchas gracias. Según lo que entiendo—obviamente no he leído todo el expediente—esta persona fue enviada a la corte y posteriormente a su país, ya que el gobierno invocó la Ley de Enemigos Extranjeros. Al invocarla, mandaron a esta persona de regreso sin brindarle el debido proceso, sin darle la oportunidad de presentar evidencia sobre su supuesta pertenencia a estas pandillas.
La Corte Suprema de los Estados Unidos, al revisar este caso, afirmó claramente que el gobierno puede utilizar esta ley, pero siempre respetando el debido proceso. Es decir, se debe demostrar previamente que la persona es miembro de una organización terrorista o justificar las acusaciones antes de proceder con la deportación. La jueza que ordenó el retorno solicitó pruebas de la supuesta membresía en pandillas y hasta ahora solo ha recibido un documento superficial que simplemente afirma que pertenece a una pandilla.
Si escuchan un ruido, es un pavo real que tengo en casa. Es curioso porque hacía años que no veía uno, y mucho menos sabía cómo cantaban. Está en un árbol grande en mi casa y ha estado dándome serenata toda la mañana.
Continuando, como abogada creo firmemente que el debido proceso es un derecho fundamental que todos tenemos. Aunque entendemos que no queremos en el país a personas vinculadas con pandillas u organizaciones criminales, no podemos saltarnos los derechos básicos de las personas. El problema es decidir arbitrariamente a quién se le aplica el debido proceso y a quién no. La jueza ha insistido en solicitar pruebas claras que vinculen a esta persona con la pandilla, y hasta ahora no se han presentado. Incluso, hace dos semanas, un abogado del gobierno fue suspendido por admitir ante la jueza que tampoco tenía evidencias.
Esta persona sí tenía una orden de deportación, pero se le había concedido un beneficio conocido como “withholding of removal”, que implica que, aunque debe ser deportado, su deportación está suspendida temporalmente debido al peligro que corre en su país. Por eso, legalmente sí podría ser enviado a un tercer país dispuesto a recibirlo.
Host:
Abogada Arias, la jueza federal encargada del caso está considerando iniciar un proceso por desacato contra la administración Trump por no presentar evidencias. ¿Puede hacer esto?
Abogada Martha L. Arias:
Sí, absolutamente. Ella está pidiendo evidencias claras y esfuerzos reales del gobierno para retornar a esta persona. Este caso pone en práctica el principio constitucional de checks and balances (pesos y contrapesos). Personalmente, me preocupa el uso arbitrario de la Ley de Enemigos Extranjeros sin pruebas contundentes, porque hoy es esta persona, pero mañana podría ser alguien más cercano a nosotros.
Host:
Según lo visto en la Casa Blanca, este asunto parece estar fuera del alcance de la justicia estadounidense, ya que está bajo custodia de la justicia salvadoreña. El presidente Bukele ha dicho que no liberará terroristas. ¿Cómo queda entonces la parte legal migratoria?
Abogada Martha L. Arias:
Es complicado. Desde mi perspectiva como abogada de inmigración y especialista en derecho internacional, si Estados Unidos deportó erróneamente a una persona, tiene la obligación de intentar regresarla. Pero si El Salvador tiene evidencias o cargos propios contra esta persona, se complicará su retorno a Estados Unidos. Por ahora, no conocemos documentación oficial que pruebe estos cargos en El Salvador. El debido proceso y la claridad legal son esenciales en toda democracia.
Host:
Finalmente, abogada, ¿qué recomienda a quienes tienen citas en cortes migratorias y tienen miedo de presentarse?
Abogada Martha L. Arias:
Recomiendo seguir el consejo específico de su abogado. Si no tienen abogado, deben buscar uno. En mi experiencia, quienes no tienen órdenes previas de deportación ni antecedentes criminales no deberían tener problemas en presentarse.
Host:
¿Dónde pueden contactar a Martha Arias?
Abogada Martha L. Arias:
Pueden visitar mi página web ariasvilla.com, o llamar al teléfono 305-233-3310.
Host:
Gracias, abogada Martha Arias, por acompañarnos.
Abogada Martha L. Arias:
Gracias a ustedes, ¡y espero que hayan disfrutado la serenata del pavo real!
Noticias 670 Morning Edition with Aaron Glantz and Eduardo Alemán
Host:
Friends, we’re going to talk about immigration, and for that, we have an immigration attorney on the phone line. She is Martha Arias. Attorney Arias, good morning. Thank you for being with us.
Attorney Martha L. Arias:
Good morning, Eduardo and Aaron. Greetings to you. Happy mid-week, as I always say.
Host:
Welcome, welcome. Thank you very much once again for speaking with us. Let’s begin by discussing a case that has taken political overtones: the case of Quilmar Ábrego García. I’d first like to recall words from Attorney General Pam Bondi and also from Stephen Miller, advisor to the Department of Homeland Security, responding to questions from a CNN journalist during the meeting between President Donald Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. He entered the country illegally, had a deportation order, is considered a member of MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha), which is designated as a terrorist organization, and due to that, he does not have any immigration benefit. Generally speaking, that was the position of both Pam Bondi and Stephen Miller. I’d like to hear the opinion of immigration attorney Martha Arias regarding this specific case of Ábrego García.
Attorney Martha L. Arias:
Yes, thank you very much. From what I understand—obviously, I haven’t read the entire file—this person was sent to court and subsequently to his country because the government invoked the Alien Enemies Act. Upon invoking this act, they simply sent the person back without providing due process, without giving him the opportunity to present evidence regarding his alleged affiliation with these gangs.
The Supreme Court of the United States, when reviewing this case, clearly stated that the government may use this act, but always respecting due process. In other words, it must be demonstrated beforehand that the person is a member of a terrorist organization or justify the accusations before proceeding with deportation. The judge who ordered the return requested evidence of the alleged gang membership, and until now, she has only received a superficial document simply stating he belongs to a gang.
If you hear any noise, it’s a peacock that I have at home. It’s curious because I hadn’t seen one in years, let alone knew how they sounded. It’s on a large tree in my house and has been serenading me all morning.
Continuing, as an attorney, I firmly believe that due process is a fundamental right we all possess. Even though we understand we don’t want people linked to gangs or criminal organizations in the country, we can’t bypass people’s basic rights. The problem is arbitrarily deciding who is entitled to due process and who isn’t. The judge has insisted on receiving clear evidence linking this person to the gang, and until now, it hasn’t been presented. In fact, two weeks ago, a government lawyer was suspended after admitting to the judge that he also didn’t have evidence.
This person did indeed have a deportation order, but was granted a benefit called “withholding of removal,” which means that although he must be deported, his deportation is temporarily suspended due to the danger he faces in his country. Therefore, legally he could be sent to a third country willing to accept him.
Host:
Attorney Arias, the federal judge in charge of this case is considering initiating a contempt proceeding against the Trump administration for not providing evidence. Can she do this?
Attorney Martha L. Arias:
Yes, absolutely. She is requesting clear evidence and tangible efforts from the government to return this person. This case applies the constitutional principle of checks and balances. Personally, I’m concerned about the arbitrary use of the Alien Enemies Act without solid evidence because today it’s this person, but tomorrow it could be someone closer to us.
Host:
According to what was seen at the White House, this issue seems to be beyond the reach of U.S. justice, as he is under the custody of Salvadoran justice. President Bukele has stated he will not release terrorists. How does this affect the immigration legal aspect?
Attorney Martha L. Arias:
It’s complicated. From my perspective as an immigration attorney and specialist in international law, if the United States mistakenly deported someone, it is obliged to try to bring him back. But if El Salvador has evidence or its own charges against this person, his return to the United States will be complicated. Right now, we don’t have official documentation proving these charges in El Salvador. Due process and legal clarity are essential in any democracy.
Host:
Finally, attorney, what do you recommend for people who have immigration court appointments and are afraid to attend?
Attorney Martha L. Arias:
I recommend following your attorney’s specific advice. If you don’t have an attorney, you should find one. In my experience, those who do not have previous deportation orders or criminal records shouldn’t have issues attending.
Host:
Where can people contact Martha Arias?
Attorney Martha L. Arias:
You can visit my website at ariasvilla.com or call the number 305-233-3310.
Host:
Thank you, attorney Martha Arias, for joining us.
Attorney Martha L. Arias:
Thank you, and I hope you enjoyed the peacock’s serenade!
