A Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador despite a U.S. court order has been returned to the United States to face serious federal charges, including human smuggling.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 29, was removed from the U.S. in March 2025, violating a 2019 judicial ruling that had barred his deportation over concerns that he could be targeted by gangs in El Salvador. Upon arrival, he was detained in the country’s maximum-security Terrorism Confinement Center.
Following high-level diplomatic talks, Salvadoran authorities agreed to return Mr Abrego Garcia after being presented with a U.S. arrest warrant. He is now in custody in Tennessee, where he faces charges including conspiracy to transport undocumented immigrants and unlawfully moving unauthorized individuals across state lines.
A federal indictment, unsealed on 21 May, alleges that Mr Abrego Garcia played a central role in a decade-long smuggling ring linked to the violent MS-13 gang. Prosecutors claim he arranged over 100 trips transporting migrants, firearms, and drugs between Texas and Maryland. The operation has also been tied to a 2021 crash in Mexico involving a migrant-laden trailer that left 50 people dead.
Mr Abrego Garcia’s legal team has strongly denied the charges, arguing that the government’s case relies heavily on the testimony of individuals who are themselves under prosecution or already serving prison sentences.
“This is all based on the statements of individuals who are currently either facing prosecution or in federal prison,” said his attorney, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg.
The incident has reignited debate over immigration enforcement and executive authority. Critics say Mr Abrego Garcia’s deportation, in defiance of a standing court order, reflects a broader pattern of disregard for judicial oversight during the Trump administration.
Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who personally visited Mr Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, welcomed his return and criticised the original deportation. “The administration finally relented to our demands for compliance with court orders and the due process rights afforded to everyone in the United States,” he said.
Mr Abrego Garcia remains in U.S. federal custody awaiting trial. If convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence before potentially being deported again.
Sources:
- The Wall Street Journal: U.S. Brings Abrego Garcia Back from El Salvador to Face Criminal Charges
- Statements from Attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg
- Remarks by Senator Chris Van Hollen
