LPTravis May Meeting & April Activism ReCap!
AustinLiberator
- LNC Vice Chair - Paul Darr (Bexar County)
- LPTexas Chair - Andrew Amelang (Washington County)
- LPTexas Vice Chair - Jessi Cowart (Montgomery County)
- LPTexas Legislative Dir. - Kevin Hale (Dallas County)
- LPTexas Activist - Elizabeth Miller
- GInny Moore (Washington County)
- LPTravis Chair - Daniel McCarthy
- LPTravis Vice Chair - Ted Brown
- LP Travis At-Large - Girish Altekar
- Patrick Dixon
- Chris Baker
MONTHLY MEETING & HAPPY HOUR (Monday, May 12, 2025)
LPTexas Legislative Director Kevin Hale & Brandon Borke (The Atlas Society)
Our speaker will be Kevin Hale, lobbyist for the Libertarian Party of Texas at the State Capitol. Kevin has been working full-time for liberty during the 2025 legislative session. For the last four meetings, he has given us a brief update on his work. Now with the end of the legislative session coming up, Kevin will have many more tales to tell about the good, the bad, and the ugly at the Capitol.
Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
Time: 6:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location:
Casa Chapala Restaurant
9041 Research Blvd. (at 183 & Burnet Road)
Austin, TX 78758
Brandon Borke (The Atlas Society) will be on hand to present their upcoming Austin-area conference.
The Atlas Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Ayn Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism, emphasizing reason, individualism, achievement, and freedom. Founded in 1990 by philosopher David Kelley, the organization advocates for "open Objectivism," encouraging critical engagement and adaptation of Rand's ideas to contemporary issues. The Atlas Society's mission is to inspire individuals to embrace reason, achievement, benevolence, and ethical self-interest as the moral foundation for political and economic freedom. They aim to introduce young people to Ayn Rand's ideas through creative and engaging methods, including graphic novels and animated videos.
1. LPTravis Resolution Calling for the Impeachment of President Donald J. Trump
Whereas, the U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia, affirmed by a unanimous U. S. Supreme Court, ruled that the Government must facilitate Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador.
Whereas, President Donald J. Trump and members of his administration, admit than an administrative error was made to send Kilmar Abrego Garcia to an El Salvadoran prison, yet say there is nothing they can do about it, when in reality, they choose to do nothing about it.
Whereas, President Donald J. Trump and his administration have violated the constitutional rights of numerous legal U. S. residents by denying them due process of law in challenging deportation orders.
Whereas, President Donald J. Trump and his administration have targeted legal U. S. residents for deportation due to their political viewpoints, in disregard of the First Amendment.
Whereas, President Donald J. Trump has falsely used the Alien Act of 1798 and other laws to effectuate removal of legal residents, when he should have known that these laws involve wartime measures, not law enforcement measures.
Whereas, President Donald J. Trump stated that he wants to send U. S. citizens to foreign prisons where they would certainly have no due process of law.
Whereas, no one in the U. S. appears to be safe from President Donald J. Trump’s lawless, dictatorial pronouncements that he issues as Executive Orders, which he asserts have force of law when they actually violate the constitutional separation of powers.
Whereas, the Libertarian Party stands for upholding the U. S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, and for respecting for the rule of law over dictatorship and tyranny.
And Whereas, President Donald J. Trump took an oath of office to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States” with no obvious intention of doing so.
Therefore, be it resolved, that the Libertarian Party of Travis County calls for the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump and his removal from office.
2. Statement In Response to the LPTravis Resolution of April 14, 2025
This resolution does not accurately portray the events, statements, legal status of Mr. Garcia, nor the proper application of relevant Constitutional law and Federal code. It does not reflect the opinions of all members of the Travis County Libertarian Party.
Making a resolution such as this rife with legal fallacies, bordering on untruthful interpretations of events and statements and with no authority is largely pointless, making Libertarians seem once again as uninformed and childish. We should do better if we are going to throw a punch.
If we want to be relevant at all, our positions must be well grounded and well-stated, not just inflammatory, without legal basis (as confirmed by Mr. Kinzler during the meeting), otherwise we will continue to be seen as a fringe group with little knowledge of how politics or government works, just like protestors at the Texas Capital never accomplish anything. But I suppose that a feeble and false "resolution" is fine for the Travis County Libertarian Social Club.
Are POTUS' actions an aggressive and unempathetic use of power and law, probably. Is it illegal and rising to the standard required for impeachment? Unlikely.
We live in a country of laws. Flailing about and ignoring the rule of law is a fundamental flaw of Libertarians and keeps us on the fringe of the political discussion.
As you may be aware MS13 was declared a foreign terrorist organization this year. As such, Mr. Garcia's association authorized SOS via DHS to revoke any temporary status including "withdrawal of removal" which was the only thing preventing execution of the lawful 2019 deportation order. When Mr. Garcia’s “withdrawal of removal” provision was revoked, and the deportation order, which had already been entered and therefore fulfilled all due process requirements, was executed. Due process was followed to the letter.
As to deportation, the action required by SCOTUS is to "facilitate & effectuate" - which does not authorize superseding another nation's sovereignty over its citizens. This decision was likely entered due to Mr. Garcia having a lawful 2019 deportation order with a "withdrawal of removal" certification - which can be revoked at discretion of SOS via DHS based on new evidence, unlawful actions by the individual, and/or affiliation with foreign terrorist organizations, which MS13 has been so defined as of this year. Hence, Mr. Garcia's "withdrawal of removal" was revoked, and he was then in USA illegally, subject to the 2019 deportation order entered by the Court, which was the most recent effective adjudication of his legal status.
As such, should the Executive Branch bring Mr. Garcia back, under current immigration law, he would immediately be deported to El Salvador where he is a citizen or to another, probably worse, country. This is what the applicable administrative law and code requires. If we don't like the law, we should try to change it, but making a "resolution" that laws were violated when they weren't demonstrates a fundamental comprehension gap.
I hope we can be more well founded and coherent in the future when resolutions are proposed. We can and should do better.
John
David Roberson
Attorney-at-Law & Mediator
Secretary, LPTravis
Secretary, LPTexas Bylaws Committee
Editor-in-Chief, The Austin Liberator
Libertarian Candidate for Texas Supreme Court Place 6 (2024)
Former Staff Member, Ter Maat for President 2024
3. LPTexas Resolution Against Unjust Detentions
Whereas, individuals have been detained in foreign prisons as a result of actions by the United States government, often without due process or access to a fair legal system;
Whereas, in many such cases, government officials have acknowledged
administrative errors or legal missteps, yet have failed to take meaningful
steps to retrieve or protect those affected, save a few individuals;
Whereas, it is reprehensible to allow any person to be imprisoned in a foreign
country where they are beyond reach of legal protection and without access to
justice or remedy;
Whereas, the abandonment of due process in any case—regardless of citizenship,
nationality, or political belief—undermines the ideals of liberty and justice
that should define the American identity;
Whereas, targeting individuals for detention, removal, or abandonment based on
political viewpoints, affiliations, or expediency reflects authoritarian
tendencies incompatible with a free society;
Whereas, the use of obscure, outdated, or misapplied laws to justify state
actions that violate human rights is a clear abuse of legal authority;
Therefore, be it resolved, that the Libertarian Party of Texas condemns the
detention of any individual in a foreign prison when it results from the
failure or refusal of the U.S. government to uphold due process and protect
human rights;
Be it further resolved, that the Libertarian Party of Texas calls for the
removal from office of any official who abuses legal mechanisms to justify the
denial of human rights or who fails to act in defense of those whose liberties
have been trampled under the guise of law;
Be it further resolved, that the Libertarian Party of Texas declares that the
continued abandonment of due process in the name of expediency or political
gain constitutes a betrayal of American ideals and the fundamental principles
of justice;
Be it further resolved, that the Libertarian Party of Texas reaffirms its
unwavering opposition to the coercive use of government power and its
commitment to defending the rights of all individuals—everywhere—against
injustice and unlawful imprisonment;
Be it further resolved, that the Libertarian Party of Texas urges Congress to
establish a formal review process for cases involving the abandonment or
wrongful detention of individuals abroad.