Federal Judge Paula Xinis of the District Court for the District of Maryland ordered on April 4, 2025 the immediate return to the United States of Kilmar Armando Abrego García, a 29-year-old Salvadoran, following his mistaken deportation to his native country, where he is now incarcerated in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), the maximum security mega-prison built by the government of Nayib Bukele.
Abrego García, a legal resident in the U.S. since 2011 and protected by a court decision since 2019, was detained on March 12 after leaving his job at a construction site in Baltimore. Days later, he was transferred to El Salvador, despite having a legal order preventing his deportation due to the credible risk of persecution.
ICE admits error
Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE) admitted in a court filing that the deportation occurred because of a “clerical error.”
According to Abrego’s lawyers, due process was not respected and his current legal status was not considered,
This violated fundamental rights and triggered a personal and family crisis.
The young Salvadoran, who escaped gang violence at age 16, was unverifiably fingered as an alleged MS-13 member in 2019.
However, that charge was dismissed following legal appeals that resulted in his release and protection in the US.
Wrongful Deportation: An alert community
Buzzy
Abrego lived in Maryland with his U.S. citizen wife and their three children, two with autism and one with epilepsy.
It was his wife who recognized him in a video released by the Salvadoran government showing hooded detainees in the CECOT.
His story has sparked outrage among immigrant rights advocates and Latino community organizations in the U.S., who are demanding his prompt repatriation.
Judge Xinis gave the government until midnight on Monday, April 7 to coordinate their return.
He remarked that the deportation was “illegal”, setting a relevant precedent for other cases of irregular expulsions.
Wrongful Deportation: A legal precedent
This case not only affects one family, but also revives the debate about transparency and respect for the rules in immigration procedures.
Abrego García was arrested on March 12
QueOnnda.com
Activists and attorneys urge a review of ICE’s role in summary deportations.
Also, to ensure that no other protected immigrants are sent to dangerous contexts due to bureaucratic failures.
For more information, visit QueOnnda.com.
