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Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a resident of Maryland and immigrant with legal protections, was erroneously deported to El Salvador in March 2025 due to what the prior Trump administration acknowledged as an “administrative error.” This incident highlights concerns regarding immigration enforcement and deportation processes under the previous administration.
The 29-year-old individual fled El Salvador during his teenage years to escape rampant gang violence. Reports indicate that members of the Barrio 18 gang had issued death threats and attempted to extort his mother’s pupusa business, according to sources. In 2019, he received “withholding of removal” status, legally allowing him to reside and work within the United States. Despite this legal safeguard, he was suddenly apprehended and deported in March.
The case of Abrego Garcia has ignited widespread alarm regarding potential executive overreach, breaches of due process, and the prevailing state of immigration enforcement practices. Explore further details surrounding his situation and current whereabouts below.
Why Was Kilmar Abrego Garcia Subjected to Deportation?
Abrego Garcia’s deportation occurred amidst a wider crackdown initiated by the Trump administration. This initiative involved the rapid organization of charter flights directed towards El Salvador, intended for the deportation of a group of Venezuelan migrants. These individuals were accused of affiliations with the Tren de Aragua gang and were deported invoking the Alien Enemies Act—an 18th-century wartime statute granting presidential authority to remove non-citizens during periods of national conflict.
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In February 2025, the Trump administration formally designated MS-13 as a foreign terrorist organization and commenced vigorous endeavors to remove suspected affiliates. As part of this policy framework, officials have indicated intentions to persist in deporting non-citizens to CECOT—El Salvador’s mega prison, known as the Terrorism Confinement Center—even in instances such as Abrego Garcia’s, where evidence of gang association remains ambiguous or contested. The U.S. is currently allocating $6 million to El Salvador to detain individuals alleged to be members of the Tren de Aragua gang at this facility for a one-year duration.
Will Kilmar Abrego Garcia Be Permitted to Return to the U.S.?
The possibility of Abrego Garcia being permitted to return to the U.S. remains uncertain. Numerous parties continue to strongly advocate for his safe repatriation to his home and family. Notwithstanding a U.S. Supreme Court ruling mandating his return, both the Trump administration and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele have communicated their unwillingness to facilitate his return.
“He is an illegal alien who has been residing illegally in our country coming from El Salvador. ICE testified, an immigration judge adjudicated he was a member of MS-13. An appellate judge adjudicated he was a member of MS-13. Full stop,” Attorney General Pam Bondi asserted during an April 16 press briefing. “He should not be within our country.”
Is Kilmar Abrego Garcia Currently Alive?
On April 12, the U.S. Department of State declared in a court submission that Abrego Garcia was “alive and secure” while imprisoned. However, there has been no direct or independent confirmation regarding his condition since this filing.
On April 16, Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, speaking from an airport, conveyed his intention to visit El Salvador to “assess [Abrego Garcia’s] well-being” and engage with Salvadoran officials.
Upon arrival, Senator Van Hollen commented, “I may be the first senator or first member of Congress to travel to El Salvador, but individuals will continue to come until he is returned home.” To date, his request to visit Abrego Garcia has been denied.
Is Kilmar Abrego Garcia Married to a U.S. Citizen?
After immigrating to the U.S., Abrego Garcia established a life in Maryland. According to reports, court documents reveal he entered into marriage and was raising three children with disabilities. His wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, is a citizen of the United States. The couple share one child, and Sura has two children from a prior relationship.