Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongfully deported by the United States to San Salvador, is back. His deportation was in violation of a court order from 2019.
Upon his return, Abrego Garcia was immediately arrested, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated at a press conference. He is accused of smuggling illegal immigrants, weapons, and drugs.
According to Bondi, his return to the US is the result of an arrest warrant handed over to the Salvadoran authorities. President Nayib Bukele indicated that he could not refuse the American request to return “a gang member.”
Abrego Garcia lived legally with his family in Maryland and had a work permit. He was deported for alleged ties to the MS-13 gang, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the Trump administration. The case ended up in the Supreme Court, which unanimously ruled that the Trump administration should facilitate his return to the US due to the wrongful deportation. In El Salvador, he spent some time in the notorious CECOT prison.
Despite the Supreme Court ruling, Trump indicated during a visit by Bukele to the White House in April that his administration did not intend to bring Abrego Garcia back.
Abrego Garcia left El Salvador at the age of sixteen to escape gang violence, his lawyers say. Court documents state that he received protected status from the immigration judge because he was in danger of being persecuted by gangs in El Salvador.