The Trump administration mistakenly deported Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant with protected status in the US, to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, raising serious concerns about due process and administrative oversight.
Despite his legal protection from removal due to fears of persecution in El Salvador, the US government admitted that his deportation was an administrative error. However, the administration argues that since Mr. Abrego Garcia is no longer in US custody, the court lacks jurisdiction to order his return—a position his family is now challenging through a lawsuit.
Mr. Abrego Garcia, a father and union worker, had lived in the US for about 14 years after fleeing gang violence in El Salvador. ICE accused him of gang affiliation, but his lawyers firmly dispute the claim.
This case comes amid a wave of deportations, including hundreds of Venezuelans sent to El Salvador—some allegedly identified based on common tattoos. The administration’s use of emergency powers for these removals has sparked growing concerns over fairness and due process.
