The case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, mistakenly deported to El Salvador, has drawn significant attention as U.S. officials confirm his safety. Garcia faces legal battles following an administrative error, with courts demanding his return while the Trump administration resists.
Confusion Surrounds Deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador
Confusion Surrounds Deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador
U.S. official confirms Kilmar Abrego Garcia is "alive and secure" after being mistakenly deported, amid legal and administrative turmoil.
A man who was accidentally deported from Maryland to a mega-jail in El Salvador has been confirmed as "alive and secure," stated a U.S. official in a recent court hearing. The remarks regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia's condition followed a Supreme Court extension directing the Trump administration to facilitate his release and repatriation.
“Based on our Embassy in San Salvador’s reports, Abrego Garcia is currently housed in the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador,” said Michael Kozak, a State Department official, during the proceedings. President Donald Trump is expected to meet with El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele on Monday, following a wave of deportations involving over 200 migrants alleged to have gang affiliations.
The U.S. government previously admitted that Mr. Garcia's deportation was the result of an "administrative error," although claims persist about his alleged ties to the MS-13 gang, which his lawyer refutes. Garcia was part of a larger group of deported individuals sent to the notorious center last month under a joint agreement between the U.S. and El Salvador.
Kozak reaffirmed that Mr. Garcia is "alive and secure" in custody after an immigration judge previously granted him protection from deportation in 2019 due to concerns for his safety. However, the Trump administration contested efforts to return him, claiming that the district judge had overstepped her authority. This week, the U.S. Supreme Court, which currently holds a 6-3 conservative majority, endorsed the order for Mr. Garcia's repatriation.
On Friday, Judge Paula Xinis ordered the Trump administration to submit daily updates on the progress of Mr. Garcia's return to the U.S. Legal representatives for Garcia accused the government of intentionally delaying the process and ignoring court directives, putting his life at risk.
Mr. Garcia, now 29, fled El Salvador as a teenager and entered the U.S. illegally. After being arrested in Maryland in 2019, he was detained by federal authorities and granted deportation protection, fearing violence from local gangs if returned home.
On the matter, Trump remarked that he would comply if the Supreme Court mandated Garcia's reintegration, showcasing respect for the judicial body. His upcoming meeting with Bukele has elicited comments on social media, with Trump referring to deported individuals as "barbarians," indicating a forceful stance against those he considers threats to U.S. citizens.
