Supreme Court rules Trump officials must 'facilitate' release of man deported to El Salvador

The US Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that the Trump istration must try to release a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to a mega-jail in El Salvador.

In a 9-0 ruling, the justices declined to block a lower court's order to "facilitate" bringing back Kilmar Ábrego García, but they also said Judge Paula Xinis may have exceeded her authority.

On Friday Judge Xinis directed the Trump istration to provide her with daily updates on what steps they are taking to bring Mr Ábrego García back to the US.

The government has conceded Mr Ábrego García was deported due to an "istrative error", though it also alleges he is a member of the MS-13 gang, which his lawyer denies.

Mr Ábrego García, a Salvadorean, is one of dozens of alleged gang member migrants placed by the US on military planes last month and flown to El Salvador's notorious Cecot (Terrorism Confinement Centre) under an arrangement between the two countries.

Following the Supreme Court's order, lawyers for the Trump istration went in front of Judge Xinis of the Maryland district court on Friday to explain how they will release Mr Ábrego García.

The judge had asked the government to explain by that morning how they planned to bring Mr Ábrego García back, but justice department attorneys filed a motion asking for the deadline to be extended until Tuesday evening.

In a two-page filing, government lawyers called her deadlines "impracticable".

During an at-times tense hearing that lasted about half an hour, Judge Xinis repeatedly pressed the justice department for specifics on Mr Ábrego García's whereabouts.

"I'm not asking for state secrets," she said. "I'm asking a very simple question: where is he":[]}