Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Salvadoran father at the center of a high-profile immigration and deportation case, may soon be deported again—this time not to El Salvador, but to an unnamed third country, according to recent statements from U.S. federal authorities.
This development follows months of legal controversy after Abrego Garcia was wrongfully deported to El Salvador in March, despite having a court order that protected him from being removed due to credible threats from gangs. He was forcibly separated from his U.S.-citizen wife and three children, sparking public outrage and legal action.
⚖️ BACKGROUND: A Wrongful Deportation
In 2019, an immigration judge granted Abrego Garcia relief from removal, citing life-threatening risks if he were sent back to El Salvador. However, in March 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) violated that order and deported him anyway.
Following pressure from legal advocates and a Supreme Court ruling, the U.S. government was forced to bring him back in June. But just weeks after his return, ICE has informed the court it still intends to deport him again—potentially to a country other than El Salvador.
This so-called “third-country removal” is legal under certain provisions of U.S. immigration law, though rarely used in such high-profile cases.
🚨 LEGAL & HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS
Abrego Garcia’s legal team has filed an emergency request with a federal judge to halt any deportation until his current legal matters are resolved. A critical hearing is scheduled for July 7, where Judge Paula Xinis will decide whether he can remain in Maryland during ongoing criminal proceedings in Tennessee.
“This would be a clear violation of due process,” said one of Abrego Garcia’s attorneys. “ICE already deported him once against a federal order. Doing it again to a third country would further erode trust in the immigration system.”
Advocates warn that this case sets a dangerous precedent—allowing the government to circumvent court protections by redirecting deportations through other nations, effectively bypassing judicial rulings.
👨👩👧👦 FAMILY AT STAKE
Abrego Garcia is married to a U.S. citizen and is the father of three young children. His deportation would not only separate him from his family but also undermine his pending legal efforts to remain in the U.S. permanently.
“We’ve already seen the trauma caused by his wrongful removal,” said a spokesperson for an immigrant rights group. “Doing it again—to an unknown third country—would be inhumane.”
🔍 WHAT’S NEXT?
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A July 7 court hearing will determine whether ICE must pause any deportation plans.
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Legal observers believe ICE could act quickly—even over a weekend—if no legal block is put in place.
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The White House has pushed back, calling media reports on his imminent removal “fake news,” though federal prosecutors confirmed that third-country deportation remains an option.
✅ CONCLUSION
Abrego Garcia’s case has become a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration enforcement, due process, and family unity. As the government signals intent to deport him again—this time to a country other than El Salvador—all eyes are on the courts to determine whether justice or bureaucracy will prevail.
