Senator Susan Collins spoke to reporters about concerns among Republicans regarding President Trump’s recent clashes with the federal courts. Tensions have grown after a Maryland man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, was deported to a harsh prison in El Salvador.
Many Republicans believe he didn’t get a fair legal process, even though he’s not a U.S. citizen. They don’t want a direct confrontation with the White House but feel that due process should have been followed.
Some were also disturbed by an image the FBI Director posted of Judge Hannah Dugan in handcuffs. While they say she may have broken the law, they found the public photo surprising and harsh.
Collins, who is running for reelection, said it was troubling that a judge ruled Abrego Garcia was deported without legal justification. Originally, the administration admitted a mistake, but it has since pulled back from that stance. She emphasized that due process exists to ensure fairness.
A federal judge said there was no legal basis to arrest or deport Abrego Garcia. Another judge criticized the administration for trying to detain people abroad without fair legal proceedings, which goes against the Constitution.
Senator Lisa Murkowski said everyone in the U.S., even non-citizens, deserves some level of due process. She and other Republicans agree that no one should lose their rights without going through proper legal channels. The Supreme Court backed a lower court’s decision ordering the administration to treat Abrego Garcia as if he was never deported. However, the administration has been slow to comply, prompting strong criticism from the judge.
Murkowski said the administration’s lawyers are pushing the limits of the law, and she hopes they don’t go too far.
At a recent town hall, Senator Chuck Grassley faced tough questions from voters about the deportation. One man asked if Grassley would help bring Abrego Garcia back, and when Grassley said no, the crowd reacted strongly.
Senator Thom Tillis said the administration moved too fast and wrongly included Abrego Garcia with dangerous gang members. He said the man should have been deported, but not sent to a prison by mistake. Tillis added that many immigrants enter the country illegally, and while they deserve due process, the system is overwhelmed.
Libertarian and rule-of-law conservatives in the GOP are especially upset that the administration didn’t respect court rulings and won’t bring Abrego Garcia back despite a Supreme Court order.
Senator Rand Paul said the Constitution protects all people in the U.S., not just citizens. He questioned whether Abrego Garcia truly got the fair legal process he was entitled to.
Meanwhile, Judge Dugan, who has been on the bench for nine years, was arrested for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant avoid immigration officers by using a side door in her courtroom. The FBI posted a photo of her in handcuffs, which upset many lawmakers. Collins said the picture was shocking and emphasized that judges are an important part of government.
Some Republicans said Dugan may have broken the law, but they were still uncomfortable with how the arrest was handled. Senator Mike Rounds said the arrest caught his attention and wondered why it was done so publicly. He believes the administration wanted to send a strong message, but questioned if it was necessary.
Democrats called the arrest an attack on the justice system. Senator Tammy Baldwin warned it could threaten the balance of power in government.
Some top Republicans, like Senate Majority Leader John Thune, urged Trump to respect the courts as an equal part of government and to follow their decisions. Thune said judges shouldn’t be above the law, but arresting one publicly sends the wrong message.
