Contrasting media perceptions of Abrego Garcia: Bias Breakdown

Welcome to Bias Breakdown. I'm your host, Kara Rucker

Kilmar Abrego-Garcia. You've likely heard the story as it's been the lead in many broadcasts

over the past week, but you probably haven't heard it told like this. We'll cover every angle

from his deportation from Maryland to an El Salvador prison and why that's being reported

as wrongful. We'll talk about his alleged gang affiliation and the evidence being presented to

support the claims and where things stand in the legal battle that went to the Supreme Court

and is likely to land back in the high court. This is where you'll get the facts of the story

We have a lot to cover, so let's get straight to it. News outlets on the left are largely holding

Abrego Garcia up as a symbol of what they call an inhumane failure of President Trump's mass

deportations. And news outlets on the right deem him a dangerous individual who was rightfully

deported by the administration. How the facts are being construed to construct a political narrative

That's the focus of today's bias breakdown. Join straight arrow news. See the slant. Avoid the

bias. When others skew the facts, we give you the truth down the center. Welcome to bias breakdown

You've been told two completely different things from networks on the left and right

regarding Abrego Garcia's case from the get-go, beginning with how the media chose to identify

and describe him. Left networks largely referring to him as the Maryland man

resident, or Maryland father who was wrongly deported. The Maryland resident, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, being held in prison in El Salvador

Exactly one month ago, the Trump administration abducted and imprisoned a Maryland man named Kilmar Obrega Garcia

The Maryland man who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador. Kilmar Obrega Garcia, Maryland father who was mistakenly deported by the Trump administration

Kilmar Obrega Garcia, a Maryland father who was sent to the prison by mistake

Meanwhile, networks on the right referring to him as the alleged gang member and illegal alien deported back to his home country

The Democratic Party rallying around an illegal alien who is an alleged gang member, an accused domestic abuser

Democrat Senator Chris Van Hollen is defending his trip to El Salvador to meet with the suspected MS-13 gang member

The supposed Maryland father, who was actually an MS-13 affiliated illegal alien from El Salvador

They're literally traveling to El Salvador, fighting for a gang member, terrorist, wife beater, allegedly, and illegal immigrant, even if none of the other things are true, an illegal immigrant

The same pattern was seen across print media as well. Other news outlets on the left, like Axios and NPR, calling Abrego Garcia a wrongly deported

Maryland man. And other outlets on the right, like the Daily Wire and the New York Post

identifying him as an MS-13 suspect and er. The case has become a war of words between the

two partisan sides of media. The White House got in on the descriptor words in the media

making this post on X showing red ink corrections to a New York Times headline

reading Senator meets with wrongly deported Maryland man in El Salvador, changing it to MS-13 illegal alien who's never coming back. Language aligned with that used in

right-leaning media. The press secretary also sounded off last week. Based on the sensationalism

of many of the people in this room, you would think we deported a candidate for father of the

year. So let's talk about this for a second and break it down. It's common for news outlets to

use descriptor words when circling back to a news story over and over again. But as you just saw

the framing of those few words can be chosen in a way to fit the rhetoric coming from one political

side, which tilts the scale of balance in news reports. Here's the thing. All of these descriptors

are technically accurate. He did reside in Maryland. He does have kids. He came into the

U.S. illegally. He is an accused gang member, and his girlfriend did report him for domestic

violence. Sometimes we use media watchdog group All Sides, who police this sort of bias in news

reports. Here's what they wrote. Outlets from the right have highlighted Abrego Garcia's

unlawful U.S. entry and accusations of domestic abuse and gang affiliations. These sources

often sensationalized headlines. Many media outlets on the left sought to portray him

sympathetically as a Maryland man or, in some cases, a Maryland father

Let's move on and get to the facts about Abrego Garcia's immigration status and known history

including allegations of gang affiliation. This is a lengthy process involving lots of court documents

We'll try to lay this out in a way where it's easy to follow in chronological order

Abrego Garcia entered the country illegally in 2011 according to his own testimony in court documents that came later during immigration proceedings In 2016 Abrego Garcia begins dating Vasquez Sura

In 2018, Edwin Ramos, the father of Sura's two children, according to court documents

files an emergency custody hearing, claiming the children were in serious danger because Sura was

dating a gang member. A judge dismissed the custody battle over a lack of jurisdiction

In March 2019, Abrego Garcia is arrested at a Home Depot with three others in Maryland

In the report, police indicate several of those individuals are known gang members. Police say

of Abrego Garcia, he was wearing a Chicago Bulls hat and a hoodie with rolls of money covering the

eyes, ears, and mouth of the presidents on these separate denominations. Officers know such clothing

to be indicative of Hispanic gang culture. Wearing the Chicago Bulls hat represents that they are a

member in good standing with the MS-13. Officers contacted a past proven and reliable source of

information who advised Kilmar Armando Abrego-Garcia is an active member of MS-13. Abrego-Garcia was

validated as a member of the MS-13 gang. Abrego Garcia has gang affiliation and subject states

that he has no information about gangs or human drug smuggling. Abrego Garcia is claiming fear

of returning to his home country of El Salvador. This prior arrest of Abrego Garcia, particularly

evidence of a bull's hat linking him to a gang, was largely dismissed by left-leaning outlets

He's falsely accused of being a gang member, based solely on an anonymous tip that he was wearing a Chicago Bulls hat when arrested in 2019

Despite never being charged with a crime, he was deported last month. For proof, they point to his Chicago Bulls hat, which they say is often worn by gang members

But considering the team's merchandise is a bestseller for the NBA, do the millions of Bulls fans who wear the hat have reason to worry

But right-leaning media pointed to it as evidence. He gets picked up in a gang sweep. It was a murder investigation. They bring him in. He had $1,000 cash. He had a bull's hat with the logo of the horns, MS-13. He had a sweatshirt on, hear no evil, see no evil, MS-13. They ask him about human trafficking. All of a sudden he goes, oh, I'm really afraid to go back to El Salvador. They might kill me

Police didn't charge Abrego Garcia in the incident and instead handed him over to ICE

custody. DHS sought his removal from the country, citing illegal entry and gang affiliation

Abrego Garcia filed an asylum claim. In April, immigration judge Elizabeth Kessler denied his

bail while his asylum request played out, writing the determination that the respondent is a gang

member appears to be trustworthy and is supported by other evidence in the record, namely information

contained in the gang field interview sheet. Although the court is reluctant to give evidentiary

weight to the respondent's clothing as an indication of gang affiliation, the fact that a

past proven and reliable source of information verified the respondent's gang membership

rank, and gang name is sufficient to support that the respondent is a gang member. And the

Respondent has failed to present evidence to rebut that assertion. While still detained by ICE, Abrego Garcia Marisouza in June

A few months later, in October, immigration judge David Jones denies his asylum request

Writing his application for asylum came seven years after his entry into the U.S.

well beyond the one-year filing deadline. The application for asylum is time-barred and must be denied

The judge instead grants a withholding of removal for Abrego Garcia, writing he fears returning to his country because the Barrio 18 gang was targeting him and threatening him with death because of his family's pupusa business

But noting, withholding of removal in contrast to asylum confers only the right not to be deported to a particular country rather than the right to remain in the U.S

Abrego Garcia was released from custody and granted a work permit. In December of that year, the Board of Immigration Appeals

denied his attempt to appeal Kessler's earlier ruling that his MS-13 affiliation was likely

The appeals panel ruling, the immigration judge appropriately considered allegations of gang

affiliation against the respondent in determining that he has not demonstrated that he is not a danger to property or persons

Fast forward two years later, Abrego Garcia's wife, Vasquez Sura, files a temporary protective order against him shared by DHS on X

writing Abrego Garcia hit her in the eye and hit her with a work boot in 2020

In 2021 she says he punched and scratched her eye causing her to bleed ripped her shorts and shirt off and detained her against her will In her words as part of the protective order filing she wrote

at this point, I am afraid to be close to him. I have multiple photos, videos of how violent he can

be and all the bruises he has left me. Suri was asked about the protective order in an ABC News

interview, and this was her response. You did take out a temporary order of protection against

your husband in 2021. Were you in fear of your husband? My husband is alive. That's all I can say

Okay, you know, I'm not going to push on that. Sarah released a statement to media following the

resurfaced protective order, saying after surviving domestic violence in a previous relationship

I acted out of caution after a disagreement with Kilmar by seeking a protective order

in case things escalated. Kilmar has always been a loving partner and father

and I will continue to stand by him and demand justice for him

Another prior record of Abrego Garcia to mention, in 2022, Abrego Garcia is pulled over in Tennessee

suspected by troopers of partaking in labor human trafficking with eight individuals in

the car with him. Tennessee Highway Patrol is told by the FBI to let them go, and Abrego Garcia

is given a warning for an expired driver's license. In Maryland, state law allows licenses

to be obtained by non-citizens. While Abrego Garcia's record has been a major part of the story

it's the legal battle that follows his detainment by ICE in March that set off a series of questions

over his deportation, if his due process rights have been violated, and if he will return to the

U.S. On March 12th, Abrego Garcia is detained by ICE during a traffic stop. Three days later

he's deported to El Salvador as part of three planes sent to the country's high security prison

An ICE official wrote in a filing, through administrative error, Abrego Garcia was removed

from the United States to El Salvador. This was an oversight, and the removal was carried out in

good faith based on the existence of a final order of removal and Abrego Garcia's purported

membership in MS-13. Abrego Garcia sues Trump's DHS over his deportation, writing DHS deported him

to El Salvador without any legal process whatsoever, and in violation of an immigration

judge order and a federal statute prohibiting them from doing so. Judge Paula Zenas rules DHS

is ordered to facilitate and effectuate the return of Abrego Garcia. After appeals of the ruling

the Supreme Court ruled the administration must facilitate his return, but says the lower court

may have overstepped in its demand to effectuate his return, writing, the order properly requires

the government to facilitate Abrego Garcia's release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure

that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador

The intended scope of the term effectuate in the district court's order is, however, unclear and

may exceed the district court's authority. The district court should clarify its directive

with due regard for the deference owed to the executive branch in the conduct of foreign affairs

This ruling has been interpreted differently by the Trump administration and Abrego Garcia's legal team due to the terms facilitate and effectuate

Here's Attorney General Pam Bondi and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem interviewed by Fox News

It was a win. What the court also said was that these district judges do not have the right to interfere with the executive branch's ability to conduct foreign affairs, meaning President Trump's ability to do business with foreign nations

And they can't do that. What they also said is just facilitate, meaning if he wanted a plane flight, we could give him a plane flight

But we cannot effectuate it, meaning making it happen, which is what the district court had originally ruled

It was a win. I think that what the Supreme Court said here in this decision was a very clear message to other judges across this country

is that stop acting like you have the authority to dictate foreign policy and national security decisions that the president is making to protect its citizens

And here's Abrego Garcia's team. The Supreme Court didn't have any issue whatsoever

nine to zero unanimously agreed that the district judge's order that they facilitate his return

was absolutely proper is in effect today right now there was one verb that they weren't sure

what it meant they asked her to clarify it and she did the battle is being fought in court and in

court the courts have already spoken the supreme court has said the government must take steps to

facilitate Kilmer's return. It this legal back and forth over interpretations of the ruling that could land the case back to the Supreme Court It also the same rhetoric which has led to such a partisan divide over the issue

Democratic lawmakers are currently in El Salvador demanding his release following a trip from Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen

It's good to be home. Now we need to end the illegal abduction of Kilmar Arbego Garcia and bring him home too

If you deny the constitutional rights of one man, you threaten the constitutional rights and due process for everyone else in America

That same sentiment has largely been shared on left-leaning networks. I mean, this violates due 14th Amendment due process, the Eighth Amendment, right to counsel

It will go on and on and on. What's happening right now for people to understand is a constitutional crisis

You have the president of the United States who has defied a unanimous Supreme Court order

Whereas right-leaning networks have largely shared the other position. But there's no question that he had due process repeatedly

So one of the questions that's bigger, that's going to be decided partially here and partially in later court rulings is how many retries, how many opportunities do people get

He is in the country illegally. And if you have crossed the border illegally, you are deportable by definition

Lots of people are yelling online and on television that he hasn't received any due process

And that is a complete lie because he did get the due process to which illegal aliens are entitled

That is, he had an immigration hearing before a judge. And at that hearing, the judge found that the evidence presented by DHS was credible

that he was a member of MS-13, which also made him deportable

You hear the contrast and interpretations of the Supreme Court ruling over whether Trump is defying court orders or is within legal bounds of not returning

Abrego Garcia. It's hard to sum up a story in 10 to 15 minutes that consumed the news cycle last week and

into this week. It's been the lead story most days, with both political sides claiming the moral high ground

From the left, fighting for due process rights of an individual who was in fear of his life

if returned to El Salvador, where he was sent. And from the right, deporting someone who defied laws, claiming the country is safer without him given his alleged gang ties

That sentiment of a fight over the high ground is captured in the White House's post here

sharing an image of Senator Van Hollen meeting with Abrego Garcia to check on his well-being after his deportation in error

And Trump meeting with the mother of Rachel Morin, who was murdered by a migrant who wasn't supposed to be in the country

with the caption, we are not the same. In summary, the story isn't going anywhere

as legal questions are still left to be answered. And while political leaders from the left and right

along with partisan media, have come to their conclusions in the case

definitive answers are yet to come and will likely require another response

from the Supreme Court. News outlets have reported on Abrego Garcia under different lights

with media watchdog groups saying, the word choice is intentional with the agenda of shaping public perception surrounding the

Maryland man or alleged MS-13 gang member. This was a long episode because it's just a very

convoluted case from Abrego Garcia's past run-ins with the law to several steps in his immigration

court proceedings and then the legality over his deportation to El Salvador. We didn't even cover

all of the details here, but we tried to show some of the more prevalent facts to one of the

biggest stories of the news cycle and how they have been distorted by news outlets on the left

and right. And that's your bias breakdown. Thanks for watching this week's episode to the end here

I know that was a lot of ground to cover, so I hope you were able to stick with us and

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should see us pop up. In this episode, you saw a lot of court documents, police reports

court opinions, and so forth. I'm going to link all of our original sources in our news article

if you'd like to take a further look for yourself. You can find that at san.com or by downloading our mobile app

A big thanks to Ian Kennedy, our video editor, and Allie Caldwell on our graphics this week

and Alex Nolte for helping me dig and find some of these sound bites

of left and right news coverage. Thank you for watching Bias Breakdown

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