Defending our rights: Fighting for Kilmar Abrego Garcia and his right to due process

Since mid-March, SMART has continued to fight for Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s return home and his right to due process. Abrego Garcia, a sheet metal apprentice with SMART Local 100 in Maryland, was mistakenly deported to El Salvador nearly two months ago.

The latest episode of SMART News featured coverage of the ongoing case, including footage of a press conference featuring SMART General President Michael Coleman and Abrego Garcia’s wife, Jennifer; an interview with SMART House Counsel Luke Rebecchi; and General President Coleman’s appearance on CNN’s The Situation Room.

“The principle of due process is one of the fundamental values our nation is founded upon. Every single person in America has the right to due process, the right to face one’s accusers — the guarantee that no one shall be ‘deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law,’” General President Coleman said on April 4. “When Kilmar Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, he was denied his right to due process, and we at SMART are fighting to ensure he receives the treatment he is granted under law — just like we would, and we always will, fight for the rights of every single SMART member.”

“In the blink of an eye, our three children lost their father, and I lost the love of my life,” Jennifer Vasquez Sura said during the April press conference. “His mother lost a son, his siblings lost their brother. Our entire family is broken by what, in ICE’s words, was an error.”

“We all need to imagine if this were to happen to us,” said General President Coleman during the same press conference. “One of our family members, one of our friends. Taken into custody, illegally deported and not being able to reach out to your loved ones.

“It’s just not enough to admit that you made a mistake — you need to fix it.”

On Thursday, April 10, the United States Supreme Court issued a decision that backed a federal judge’s order requiring the government to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States. Members are encouraged to send a letter to their representative and senators demanding action.