American Labor Rallies Behind Kilmar Abrego Garcia
North America's Building Trades Unions calls for return of union member sent to El Salvador due to "administrative error."
The story of Kilmar Abrego Garcia has taken center stage over the past several weeks after he was mistakingly deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration. Mr. Garcia has been detained in El Salvador since March 16th. Official government papers originally released by the Trump administration back in March stated, “…although ICE was aware of his protection from removal to El Salvador, Abrego Garcia was removed to El Salvador because of an administrative error.”1 Now, Garcia’s union is urging the White House to facilitate his return from El Salvador. The Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Transportation Division released the following statement on April 10th:
“The SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD) stands in unwavering solidarity with Brother Kilmar Abrego Garcia. He is a first-year apprentice of SMART Local 100, who was mistakenly deported by the U.S. Government, then imprisoned in El Salvador without due process or opportunity for appeal. If this can happen to Garcia, it can happen to anyone.”2
According to NBC News, a U.S. court “…granted withholding of removal as long as he checked in with authorities annually... This gave him legal status in the United States temporarily and allowed him to receive a work permit.”3 Despite the Trump administration initially calling the deportation an administrative error, it has spent the past several weeks backpedalling and labeling Garcia a violent gang member. The United States Supreme Court (which is a majority conservative court and features three justices appointed directly by Trump in his first term) ruled unanimously that the federal government must work to facilitate the return of Mr. Garcia to the United States. In its official decision, the court agreed “…that Abrego Garcia was subject to a withholding order forbidding his removal to El Salvador, and that the removal to El Salvador was therefore illegal.”4 Despite this 9-0 ruling, the Trump administration remains committed to keeping Garcia in El Salvador.
While the president and his team refuse to take action, American labor is rallying behind Kilmar. North America’s Building Trades Unions president, Sean McGarvey, also voiced support for their union brother’s return to the United States. McGarvey received a standing ovation as he demanded Garcia be returned, as seen in the clip below from a recent legislative conference. Garcia is a first-year apprentice at Sheet Metal Local 100, where he worked near the Washington, D.C. area.5 The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) also voiced support for Garcia’s return on social media.6
SMART General President Michael Coleman also reiterated the union’s support for Garcia, stating, “He did not have a criminal record and is, in fact, an example of the hard work that SMART members pride themselves on… Brother Kilmar was literally helping to build this great country.”7
It is rather puzzling why the Trump administration continues to insist it was justified in deporting Abrego Garcia after a conservative supermajority on the United States Supreme Court ruled the government should facilitate his return. Trump’s team accuses Garcia of disobeying U.S. immigration laws while the administration literally refuses to comply with American judges. One has to ask if this is truly about public safety or about punching down on the working-class. And the latter seems clearly to be the case, especially given President Trump’s efforts to turn the immigration system into a business. As reported by Barron’s, “‘Gold card’ visas will be available for rich non-citizens to buy for $5 million by the end of the month.”8 In doing this, Trump is effectively creating a financial barrier to enter the United States.
Only time will tell if the Trump administration finally owns up to its egregious error. Meanwhile, I encourage you to donate to Garcia’s family here.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-was-sent-el-salvador-due-administrative-error-protected-legal-stat-rcna199010
https://www.smart-union.org/smart-td-stands-with-brother-kilmar-abrego-garcia/
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kilmar-abrego-garcia-deported-el-salvador-trump-immigration-what-know-rcna201708
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a949_lkhn.pdf
https://nwlaborpress.org/2025/04/labor-demands-return-of-union-apprentice-jailed-in-el-salvador/
https://www.facebook.com/aflcio/posts/the-labor-movement-stands-in-solidarity-with-kilmar-abrego-garcia-and-sheet-meta/1065093698988913/
https://www.facebook.com/smartunion/photos/statement-smart-stands-with-kilmar-armando-abrego-garciaon-march-31-2025-the-tru/1063791542450788/
https://www.barrons.com/articles/trump-gold-card-visa-d14cfe37