The DSR Network The Daily Blast: Sotomayor’s Harsh Dissent on Trump Arrests Offers a Terrifying Warning
Apr 9, 2025
In this insightful discussion, guest Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a Senior Fellow at the American Immigration Council, delves into the troubling rulings surrounding the deportation of Venezuelans during the Trump administration. He interprets Sonia Sotomayor's powerful dissent, which highlights alarming risks to due process and the potential for wrongful deportations. Reichlin-Melnick also examines the haunting implications of legal errors in cases like that of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and emphasizes the critical need for judicial safeguards against government overreach.
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Abrego-Garcia's Case
- Kilmar Abrego-Garcia, a Salvadoran man in the US since age 16, was deported to El Salvador despite a judge's order.
- This occurred after a questionable arrest for loitering and an unsubstantiated MS-13 accusation.
Sotomayor's Warning
- If the government can deport by mistake without rectifying errors, there's no limit to their power.
- Even US citizens could be deported without redress if judicial review is denied unlawfully before removal.
Flimsy Evidence
- Despite claims of MS-13 affiliation, Abrego-Garcia's only evidence was a gang worksheet citing Chicago Bulls attire and an unnamed informant's claim.
- The detective who filled out the worksheet was later suspended, and police had no record of Abrego-Garcia's arrest.