As Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportations continue scaring countless immigrant families in the U.S., a recent situation shows that even when protected by court permits, the families are unsafe. 

Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old hardworking father trying to earn his Journeyman license in Maryland, was suddenly arrested in the parking lot of an IKEA with his 5-year-old son in the backseat last month. Despite this arrest being a mistake from ICE, as they did not check Garcia’s legal documentation, many are still arguing whether or not he should be brought back to the U.S. 

The Trump administration’s deportations have been difficult for everyone involved, but claiming this error as a simple mistake on their part is wildly inconsiderate and shows no knowledge on how serious the issue at hand is.

The situation involving Garcia resulted in deportation on March 15. Allegations that he was in contact with the MS-13 gang back in his home country of El Salvador led to the arrest. However, when he moved to the U.S., he went to court and had an immigration judge grant him legal protection from deportation. 

This did not stop ICE though, for when they discovered this information and the mistake they had made, they simply said it was a slip up on their part and would attempt to retrieve him. 

Garcia is now in Salvadorian custody, making it extremely difficult to be able to get him back. However, a federal judge ruled that ICE must return Garcia to the U.S. no later than 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 7. 

The deportation management has failed to understand the situation they put Garcia and his family in. Think about the father that got arrested and deported as his young, five-year-old child fearfully watches from the backseat. For this to be chalked up as a “simple mistake” means that there is an easy fix, which returning someone from a different country’s prison is not. Garcia has a family, one he worked hard for, and even with correct documentation that was not enough.

Even if ICE had taken him into custody to check if they were correct in their detaining, that still would be a breach of Garcia’s rights. Instead, they jumped to immediate deportation, which has even more negative effects. Without justifiable evidence, there should have never been a possibility this man could have been seized so suddenly, with no chance of explaining his situation.

It has been reported that Garcia intends to sue these officials when back in the U.S., and there can be no argument that it is not a valid choice. With little evidence, if any, that Garcia has ties to this gang, there was no justification for his deportation. 

People will have to wait to see if Garcia is retrieved from Salvadoran prison. If he is not, there is no longer any question that immigration court orders are more than an abuse of power from ICE and the Trump administration. This implies anyone can  and will be arrested and deported at the deportation management whims. . That is the exact opposite of this country’s values. America is for the people, except for immigrants — then apparently it is free game.