A federal judge is demanding accountability from the Trump administration over its failure to comply with a court order to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident, was deported to El Salvador despite a 2019 court ruling that protected him from removal due to credible threats from local gangs.
U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis expressed serious frustration with the administration’s lack of action, ordering officials to submit sworn testimony and documents detailing what steps—if any—have been taken to return Abrego Garcia. The judge is now considering holding the administration in contempt of court if it does not demonstrate a good-faith effort to comply.
Abrego Garcia is currently detained in a high-security facility in El Salvador known as the Terrorism Confinement Center. His deportation occurred under the rarely invoked Alien Enemies Act, raising concerns among legal experts and human rights advocates.
The Trump administration claims it lacks the legal power to force another country to return a deported individual. However, Judge Xinis has rejected that argument, stating that the government is still responsible for enforcing court orders and correcting unlawful actions, regardless of international obstacles.
The case has drawn widespread public attention, especially as questions grow about the administration’s broader immigration practices. Lawmakers, including Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, are calling for immediate intervention and a full investigation into how the wrongful deportation happened.
Advocates for Abrego Garcia argue that the case exemplifies the human cost of aggressive immigration enforcement and disregard for legal process. They continue to push for his safe return and for greater accountability within the immigration system.
