Kilmar Ábrego García, a man who was wrongly deported to El Salvador in March, has been informed by US immigration officials that they intend to deport him to Uganda, less than 24 hours after his release from jail in Tennessee. Ábrego García had declined an offer to be deported to Costa Rica in exchange for pleading guilty to human smuggling charges and remaining in jail. Instead, he chose to await trial in Maryland, where he resides with his American wife and children, and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Ábrego García’s case has gained significant attention due to his background and the circumstances surrounding his deportation. He entered the US illegally as a teenager in 2011, fleeing gang violence in his native El Salvador. In 2019, an immigration judge granted him protection against deportation, citing the likelihood of gang persecution in El Salvador. However, he was deported in March, prompting widespread pressure on the Trump administration to return him to the US.
Following a Supreme Court order, Ábrego García was brought back to the US in June and detained on human smuggling charges. His lawyers have rejected these charges as “preposterous,” stemming from a 2022 traffic stop for speeding, during which he was driving with nine passengers. Tennessee police suspected human smuggling but allowed him to drive on without charging him.
The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Ábrego García of being affiliated with the MS-13 gang, a claim he and his family vehemently deny. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has stated that the administration will not stop fighting until he is out of the country. Ábrego García’s attorney has filed documents showing that the administration has requested he appear at an immigration facility in Baltimore on Monday.
The case highlights the aggressive immigration policies of the Trump administration and the challenges faced by individuals seeking protection in the US. Ábrego García’s situation is complex, with multiple countries involved and conflicting claims about his affiliations and activities. As the case progresses, it is likely to continue to attract attention and scrutiny, both domestically and internationally. The upcoming appearance at the immigration facility in Baltimore will be a significant development in the case, and its outcome may have far-reaching implications for Ábrego García and his family.