In Response to Trump-Bukele Oval Office Meeting, Rep. Ritchie Torres Announces Plan to Introduce the RESCUE (Repatriation of Expelled Sovereign Citizens and Unjustly Exiled) Act

Today, U.S. President Donald Trump and the President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, met in the Oval Office, during which Bukele was asked about returning Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States per the Supreme Court’s ruling. With President Trump sitting next to him smiling, Bukele responded: “How can I return him to the United States? How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States?” 

In response to this shocking exchange, Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) is announcing that he will be introducing the RESCUE (Repatriation of Expelled Sovereign Citizens and Unjustly Exiled) Act into the U.S. House of Representatives.

The legislation will include the following directions:

(a) If a United States federal court issues a final order mandating the release, repatriation, or return of a United States citizen, lawful permanent resident, or noncitizen who, at the time of removal, had lawful status under U.S. immigration law (including but not limited to asylees, refugees, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, Special Immigrant Juveniles, Deferred Action recipients, or individuals with pending bona fide asylum or immigration proceedings) who has been wrongfully deported, and

(b) If the foreign government having custody or control over said individual willfully refuses to comply with the court’s order or obstructs repatriation,

(c) Then, effective 30 days, the United States shall suspend normalized diplomatic relations with said country, including but not limited to:

(1) Suspension of most-favored-nation (MFN) trade status;

(2) Termination of foreign assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act;

(3) Suspension of participation in bilateral agreements or dialogues;

(4) Prohibition on visas for government officials of the foreign country and their immediate family members;

(5) Any other penalties deemed necessary by the President or Congress.

Section 2. Suspension of Normalized Relations

(a) Applicability

This section applies when:

            1.         A final judgment, order, or writ is issued by a federal court directing the repatriation or return of a person who was:

            •           A United States citizen, or

            •           A lawful permanent resident, or

            •           A noncitizen who, at the time of removal, had lawful status under U.S. immigration law (including but not limited to asylees, refugees, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, Special Immigrant Juveniles, Deferred Action recipients, or individuals with pending bona fide asylum or immigration proceedings); and

            2.         A foreign government having custody or control of the individual refuses, fails, or obstructs compliance with the court’s order.