Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man mistakenly deported to his native El Savador, is on his way back to the United States. But it’s no fairy tale ending for Garcia, who entered the United States illegally in 2011 but was permitted to remain temporarily. He will now face federal charges of human trafficking that could lead to up to 10 years in jail, followed by deportation.

For those concerned about the lack of due process that accompanied Garcia’s removal, this reversal by the Trump administration represents a return to the standards of the American justice system. At the same time, the indictment signals that there is no letting up in Trump’s commitment to removing illegal immigrants from the country — starting with those who have committed additional crimes after entering the US illegally.

Garcia will receive a fair trial and, if convicted, will pay for his crimes. This, honestly, should have been the administration’s approach from the beginning. Instead of rushing through the formalities and deporting the wrong man, they could have done things by the book and achieved essentially the same result — without creating a martyr and celebrity along the way.

This action, and others like it, should also serve to stop Trump’s approval rating slide with regard to immigration, a subject that was once among the most popular aspects of his presidency. He was already rebounding on the issue as Garcia’s case faded from the headlines. This latest twist in the case should boost the President further, since supporters no longer need to be conflicted between Trump’s end in securing the border and the means by which he does so.

Coinciding with the departure of Elon Musk, this move may presage less appetite for chaos in the executive branch, and a little more dedication to taking their time and doing things the right way.

Meanwhile, the Democrats are left holding the bag. Senator Chris Van Hollen travelled to El Salvador to meet with Garcia at the prison. Not the worst idea, at the time. Now, however, the Maryland legislator has created a video of himself having drinks and a pleasant conversation with a man who was just indicted for human trafficking. Not a great look for a prominent figure in the opposition party.

In the long term, Trump’s shifting of the range of acceptable actions on due process could embolden future would-be violators of Americans’ civil rights. He walked right up to the edge — possibly beyond — of what an executive can do to an accused criminal, only to pull back before a more serious confrontation with the courts.

But in the near term, Trump has once again convinced his opponents to go out on a limb in opposing him, just as he retreats and saws off the branch.