Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Man Mistakenly Deported To El Salvador, Faces Re-Deportation By Trump Administration

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March, was returned to the United States to face federal criminal charges earlier this month. The move followed months of legal and political battles between the Trump administration and the federal judiciary.

Abrego Garcia was deported despite a 2019 court order barring his removal to El Salvador due to fears he could face gang violence. His deportation, labeled an “administrative error” by U.S. officials, sparked outrage and became a key point in the immigration debate. He was held in a Salvadoran prison for weeks.

Back in the U.S., Abrego Garcia faces two federal charges: conspiracy to unlawfully transport undocumented immigrants for financial gain and the unlawful transportation of undocumented immigrants. The indictment alleges that he helped move thousands of undocumented people, including alleged MS-13 affiliates, between Texas and Maryland as part of a larger smuggling operation. Abrego Garcia and his family deny ties to gangs, stating he fled gang violence in El Salvador.

Now, the Justice Department has told a judge in the case that the Administration may seek to deport Abrego Garcia before he faces trial on the charges.

While the Trump administration cited the charges to justify his deportation, many, including his lawyer, argue the prosecution is politically motivated and violates due process. “This shows that they were playing games with the court all along,” said his attorney, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg.

The controversy has sparked internal conflict within the Justice Department. Ben Schrader, chief of the criminal division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nashville, resigned amid disagreements over the case.

Despite legal challenges, the Trump administration defended its actions, with President Donald Trump praising officials for securing the return of Abrego Garcia. A judge will determine the next steps at an upcoming detention hearing.

Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), who visited Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, argue the case illustrates systemic failures in immigration enforcement and constitutional protections.