Mullin says US would be 'happy to send' Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Costa Rica

Source: ABC News

Mullin says US would be 'happy to send' Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Costa Rica

The statement contradicts prior statements made by in court by the DHS and DOJ.

ByLaura Romero
June 3, 2026, 5:02 PM

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said during testimony Tuesday that the agency "will be happy to send" Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Costa Rica -- contradicting what DHS officials and Department of Justice attorneys have said in court for months.

Abrego Garcia's attorneys included Mullin's statement in a court filing made Wednesday to the judge overseeing his immigration case, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, who has repeatedly pressed the administration on why it is pursuing Abrego Garcia's removal to the West African nation of Liberia instead of Costa Rica, which Abrego Garcia has indicated is his preferred destination if he were to be deported.

Abrego Garcia, who had been living in Maryland with his wife and children, was deported in March of last year to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison -- despite a 2019 court order barring his deportation to that country due to fear of persecution -- after the Trump administration claimed he was a member of the criminal gang MS-13, which he denies.

He was brought back to the U.S. last June to face human smuggling charges, which were subsequently dismissed last month after the judge in that case found the government was unable to refute Abrego Garcia's contention that he had been vindictively prosecuted.

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Read more: https://abcnews.com/US/mullin-us-happy-send-kilmar-abrego-garcia-costa/story?id=133560658