President of El Salvador refuses to return mistakenly deported man back to US

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has said he would not return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man whom the US Justice Department stated had been mistakenly deported to his country.

Bukele made the remark while speaking to reporters during a meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday.

“How can I return him to the United States? Like if I smuggle him into the United States?” Bukele said.

“Of course I’m not going to do it. The question is preposterous.”

When asked if Garcia would be released in El Salvador, he replied, “We’re not very fond of releasing terrorists.”

Trump then turned to Bukele and said of the assembled reporters: “They’d love to have a criminal released into our country. These are sick people.”

According to court filings, Garcia has never been criminally charged in either the United States or El Salvador.