In a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, host Joe Rogan issued a stark warning about the Trump administration’s deportation policies, expressing concern that the U.S. might be “becoming monsters” by compromising due process in the pursuit of immigration enforcement. This critique comes in light of the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father with legal protected status, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) due to an administrative error. Despite having no criminal record, Garcia was detained and deported without trial, raising serious questions about the safeguards in place to prevent such injustices. MEAWW NewsThe Economic Times+3Vanity Fair+3Mediaite+3
Rogan, who had previously endorsed Trump in the 2024 election, expressed his dismay over the incident, stating, “You go to get scared that people who are not criminals are getting, like, lassoed up and deported and sent to, like, El Salvador prisons.” He emphasized the danger of overcorrecting policies in response to radical elements, warning that abandoning due process could lead to a slippery slope where anyone could be targeted without proper legal procedures. UNILAD+2Vanity Fair+2Newsweek+2Mediaite
The case of Garcia is not isolated. Another individual, Andry José Hernández Romero, a Venezuelan makeup artist and asylum seeker, was deported under similar circumstances. Despite fleeing his home country due to persecution based on his sexual orientation and political beliefs, Hernández Romero was accused of gang affiliation based solely on his tattoos and sent to the same El Salvador prison. Rogan condemned this action as “horrific,” highlighting the potential for innocent individuals to be caught up in aggressive deportation efforts. Mediaite+1Vanity Fair+1Mediaite+5The Guardian+5Vanity Fair+5
These incidents have sparked a broader debate about the balance between national security and individual rights. Critics argue that the administration’s approach undermines the foundational principles of justice and due process. Rogan’s comments have resonated across the political spectrum, with some liberals praising him for taking a stand against what they see as overreach by the Trump administration.
As the U.S. continues to grapple with immigration reform, voices like Rogan’s highlight the importance of maintaining legal safeguards to protect individuals from wrongful detention and deportation. The cases of Garcia and Hernández Romero serve as cautionary tales of what can happen when due process is sidelined in the name of security.
