U.S. Won’t Say Whether It’s Facilitating Return Of Mistakenly Deported Man, Despite Judge’s Order
The Trump administration has confirmed to a federal judge that a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported last month is currently being held in a notorious prison in El Salvador. The government’s filing did not address the judge’s demands for details on returning Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States, stating only that he is under the authority of the El Salvador government.
Abrego Garcia’s location was verified by Michael G. Kozak, a “Senior Bureau Official” in the State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. This confirmation came after a U.S. government attorney struggled to provide information about Abrego Garcia’s whereabouts in a hearing the day before. The U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that the Trump administration must bring him back.
In response to the judge’s order to disclose Abrego Garcia’s current physical location and custodial status, the government stated that he is being held in the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador. The judge had expressed frustration with the lack of information from the government regarding Abrego Garcia’s return.
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Abrego Garcia has lived in the U.S. for approximately 14 years and is facing allegations of being an MS-13 gang member. Despite denying the allegation and never being charged with a crime, he was deported to El Salvador last month.
The Trump administration described the deportation as an administrative error but claimed that Abrego Garcia was involved with MS-13. The judge has ordered the U.S. to provide daily updates on plans to return him.
