Trump Admin Official Tells ABC News Anchor To Focus Instead On Victims Of MS-13 And TdA

Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin appeared on ABC News Live Tuesday and said to anchor Jay O’Brien that a man deported to El Salvador was an adjudicated member of MS-13.

At an April 4 hearing, United States District Judge Paula Xinis of the District of Maryland ordered the Trump administration to return Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 member, to the United States. The Supreme Court, however, ruled she exceeded her authority to require his return. The Supreme Court also said the United States should “facilitate” his return if he is released by El Salvador. O’Brien asked McLaughlin what evidence the administration had that Garcia was a member of the group.

“I think what really matters to Americans is that this MS-13 gang member who, unfortunately, Jay, you and a lot of your colleagues have called ‘a Maryland man,’ when, in reality, he is a MS-13 gang member,” McLaughlin said before O’Brien interrupted her, demanding proof that he’s MS-13.

“There’s actually two separate immigration judges, Jay, who have confirmed and ruled that he is a member of MS-13,” McLaughlin told O’Brien.

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President Donald Trump issued several executive orders to address illegal immigration and border security, including designating Mexican drug cartels, the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) and MS-13 as foreign terrorist organizations upon taking office Jan. 20. He