Marco Rubio Refuses To Say If Trump Admin Has Sought To Bring Back Abrego Garcia: 'You Know Who Else I'll Never Tell? A Juge'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio refused to say on Wednesday whether the Trump administration has requested the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man wrongly deported to El Salvador.

Rubio was asked about the matter by press present during a cabinet meeting. "Well I'll never tell you that. And you know who else I'll never tell? A judge," Rubio said.

"The conduct of our foreign policy belongs to the president of the United States and the Executive Branch, not some judge. So we will conduct foreign policy appropriately," added Rubio, who was sitting next to President Donald Trump.

Rubio's comments about Abrego Garcia come a day after Trump said he "could" order his return as the administration continues refusing to comply with a Supreme Court ruling that determined he should be brought back.

His claim may undermine an argument used by the White House to justify its reluctance in court. Politico noted that the argument has been that only Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele can release a national from a Salvadoran prison. It is unclear whether attorneys seeking his return will focus on the statement as the legal rift continues.

Trump went on to claim that Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang and not "an innocent, wonderful gentleman from Maryland." The man's lawyer and family have rejected the notion. Asked directly if he could pick the phone and request his return, Trump said he "could" and he would do it "if he were the gentleman that you say he is."

Bukele, a close Trump ally, has also refused to release Abrego Garcia, telling press at the White House in mid-April that he does not have the authority to do so. "How can El Salvador return him to the United States? By smuggling him? Of course we're not going to do that. I don't have the authority to return him," he said.

In another passage of the cabinet meeting, Rubio said the administration is "actively searching for other countries to take people from third countries, not just El Salvador." He then added that "we want to send you some of the most despicable human beings to your country... and the further away from America the better."