SMART General President Michael Coleman’s statement on reports that Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been released to his family

Following reports Friday that Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been freed from Putnam County Jail and is on his way to Maryland to be reunited with his family, SMART General President Michael Coleman issued the following statement.

“Kilmar Abrego Garcia, like every single SMART member and every person in this country, has a constitutional right to due process. We demanded that Kilmar be granted that right in March, when he was first illegally deported to El Salvador; in April, when the United States Supreme Court issued a decision that backed a federal judge’s order requiring the government to facilitate Kilmar’s return; and in June, when he arrived back in the U.S.

“Today, after months apart, Kilmar will finally have the chance to reunite with his family. We are grateful that Kilmar, his wife, Jennifer, and his children will be able to see each other soon. And we remain firm in our commitment to the rights of our members. As we said from the beginning, this isn’t about one man — it is about ensuring our constitutional rights are protected, for the sake of all SMART members and everyone in this country. We will always fight for due process for every single member of our union.

“We call for Kilmar’s rights to be protected as the legal process moves forward.”