The US must return a Maryland man mistakenly deported to an El Salvador prison, judge says
Source: AP
Updated 3:46 PM EDT, April 4, 2025
GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to arrange for the return of a Maryland man to the United States after he was mistakenly deported to a notorious El Salvador prison, while a U.S. government attorney was at a loss to explain what happened.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement expelled Kilmar Abrego Garcia last month despite an immigration judge’s 2019 ruling that shielded him from deportation to his native El Salvador, where he faced likely persecution by local gangs.
Before she issued her ruling, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis described Abrego Garcia’s deportation as “an illegal act” and pressed Justice Department attorney Erez Reuveni for answers, many of which he didn’t have. Reuveni conceded to Xinis that Abrego Garcia should not have been removed from the U.S. and shouldn’t have been sent to El Salvador. He couldn’t tell the judge upon what authority he was arrested in Maryland.
“I’m also frustrated that I have no answers for you for a lot of these questions,” he said. The judge also questioned why Abrego Garcia was sent to the prison in El Salvador, which observers say is rife with human rights abuses. “Why is he there, of all places?” asked Xinis, who was nominated by President Barack Obama. “I don’t know,” Reuveni replied. “That information has not been given to me.”
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-deportation-maryland-man-trump-617bfac0e54b241fa2f54783bdf08628
Article updated.
Previous article -
GREENBELT, Md. (AP) -- A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to arrange for the return of a Maryland man to the United States after he was mistakenly deported to a notorious El Salvador prison.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement expelled Kilmar Abrego Garcia last month despite an immigration judge's 2019 ruling that shielded him from deportation to his native El Salvador, where he faced likely persecution by local gangs.
Before she issued her ruling, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis described Abrego Garcia's deportation as "an illegal act." Xinis also questioned why he was sent to the prison in El Salvador, which observers say is rife with human rights abuses. "Why is he there, of all places?" the judge asked. The judge's ruling came shortly after Abrego Garcia's wife joined dozens of supporters at a rally to urge her husband's immmediate return.
Jennifer Vasquez Sura, a U.S. citizen, hasn't spoken to Abrego Garcia since he was flown to his native El Salvador last month and imprisoned. She urged her supporters to keep fighting for her husband "and all the Kilmars out there whose stories are still waiting to be heard."
Original article -
HYATTSVILLE, Md. (AP) -- A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to arrange for the return of a Maryland man to the United States after he was mistakenly deported to a notorious El Salvador prison.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement expelled Kilmar Abrego Garcia last month despite an immigration judge's 2019 ruling that shielded him from deportation to his native El Salvador, where he faced likely persecution by local gangs.
The judge's ruling came shortly after Abrego Garcia's wife joined dozens of supporters at a rally to urge her husband's immmediate return.
Jennifer Vasquez Sura, a U.S. citizen, hasn't spoken to Abrego Garcia since he was flown to his native El Salvador last month and imprisoned. She urged her supporters to keep fighting for her husband "and all the Kilmars out there whose stories are still waiting to be heard."
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