Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident with protected legal status, was mistakenly deported to El Salvador on March 15, 2025, despite a court order preventing his removal. The deportation occurred due to what federal officials described as an “administrative error.” In response, Abrego Garcia has filed a lawsuit against U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and other officials, demanding his immediate return.
Abrego Garcia has lived in the U.S. since 2011 and had been granted protection from deportation in 2019 because of credible fears of persecution in El Salvador. However, after the mistaken deportation, he was taken to a high-security prison in El Salvador. His legal team argued the deportation violated both court orders and his constitutional rights.
On April 3, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ruled that the government must return Abrego Garcia to the United States by April 7, calling the deportation unlawful. Despite acknowledging the error, the Trump administration has resisted complying, arguing that the court lacks authority to order his return and that such decisions fall under executive control.
As of April 6, Abrego Garcia remains detained in El Salvador while the U.S. government appeals the ruling. The case has sparked national debate about immigration enforcement, executive power, and accountability for wrongful deportations. Legal experts warn the outcome could set a precedent for future immigration cases involving judicial authority over federal deportation actions.
