Several Portland-area legislators have spoken out this week about what they refer to as a constitutional crisis and “rising authoritarianism” in Washington, D.C.

Speaking in the Senate chamber at the Capitol in Salem, lawmakers have referenced issues within the Donald Trump administration including civil liberties, due process and human rights.

Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland, summed up his feelings about the administration in one word: Evil.

A judge has ordered the administration to return Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego García from an El Salvadoran prison, even though Trump officials admit the man was mistakenly rounded up and kicked out of the United States. And the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that the Trump administration must facilitate the man’s return.

Despite that, the Trump administration has indicated they have no intention of following the judge’s orders.

“I see a basic overarching evil in the actions coming out of Florida and Washington, D.C.,” said Frederick, who chairs the Senate Committee on Education. Donald Trump maintains a home in Florida.

“The legal manifestation is the White House refusing to abide by a Supreme Court decision based on the Constitution,” Frederick said. “Underlying that is an attempt to use the (George Orwell) novel ‘1984’ as a blueprint for authoritarianism versus democracy. It was supposed to be a warning. But comments (Thursday, April 16) in the Oval Office indicate another book is now being followed. ‘Mein Kampf’ is being followed.”

“Mein Kampf” is Adolph Hitler’s 1925 manifesto.

Trump recently stated that he’s willing to send U.S. citizens to El Salvadoran prisons, as well.

“Threats to jail Americans in foreign extermination camps if they disagree with the would-be king dictator now in the White House,” Frederick said. “So who’s next to be kidnapped and thrown into a foreign prison? Are we returning to the 1860s, pre-Civil War America? Evil.”

Also speaking up this week is Sen. Chris Gorsek, whose district includes Gresham and portions of East Portland, and who serves as co-chair on three legislative joint committees.

“Whether you like the president or not, the president has done some things that violate the Constitution, that violate separation of powers,” Gorsek said. “And what many of us are simply asking is for Congress to protect their powers and stand up against these unconstitutional actions, including this idea that we can send American citizens offshore. That’s not the United States I grew up in.”

Sen. Khanh Pham of Portland, who chairs the Senate Committee on Housing and Development, also addressed the case of Abrego García’s deportation.

“Our Constitution is in crisis, due process and the courts are blatantly ignored, checks and balances are being eviscerated, and dictators are joking with the president of the United States about how many more prisons they need to build to house U.S. citizens.” Pham said. “Now is the time to sound the alarm.”

Other Oregon Democrats speaking out this week include Sens. Deb Patterson of Salem and Sara Gelser Blouin of Corvallis and Albany.