US government intends to deport Abrego Garcia to a third country, according to prosecutors.
Federal prosecutors have informed a Maryland judge of the U.S. government’s intentions to commence new removal proceedings against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant whose deportation earlier this year raised significant concerns regarding the handling of his case. Abrego Garcia was erroneously deported in March, sparking widespread criticism and legal disputes.
During a court proceedings on Thursday, Jonathan Guynn, a lawyer from the Department of Justice, specified that the government’s removal efforts would target a “third country,” rather than returning Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, where he was previously sent. It is noteworthy that the administration has indicated these actions are not to be executed “imminently” and has assured compliance with existing court orders.
These developments emerged from an urgent request brought before U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in Greenbelt, Maryland. Abrego Garcia is currently detained in Tennessee facing criminal charges. Local judges in Tennessee have signaled plans to release him soon, which introduces the risk of him being re-arrested by immigration authorities. Consequently, his legal team has asked Judge Xinis to mandate that he be relocated to Maryland upon his release, ensuring he remains in the U.S. to face his impending trial.
Abrego Garcia’s situation highlights the complexities surrounding immigration enforcement, particularly under the previous administration’s aggressive policies aimed at mass deportations. Despite being covered by a 2019 protection order that allowed him to remain in the country, he was apprehended and removed in March, igniting a notable legal battle for his reinstatement.
Initially held in El Salvador at Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, a high-security facility with reported concerns over its conditions, he was later moved to a different institution amidst mounting media scrutiny. Prior to his deportation, Abrego Garcia was not charged with any crime, but upon announcing his return, the U.S. government unveiled plans to indict him on human smuggling charges, which he has vehemently denied. His legal representatives argue these charges are politically motivated, designed to shield the administration from the ramifications of its controversial immigration tactics.
The Trump administration has labeled Abrego Garcia a member of the MS-13 gang, relying on a controversial video from 2022 as purported evidence. However, this classification is contested in light of his prior lack of criminal charges and the circumstances surrounding his deportation being labeled an “administrative error” by officials.
Judge Xinis is currently deliberating on the legality of Abrego Garcia’s March removal and the possibility of contending that the previous administration acted in contempt of court. Following an earlier ruling confirming the government’s duty to facilitate his return to the U.S., his attorneys have raised concerns about delays in providing necessary information regarding his case, implying an agenda to pursue charges against him while neglecting due process.
The next court hearing is set for July 7, where the emergency request to transfer Abrego Garcia to Maryland will be further evaluated, as he continues to remain in custody in Tennessee, shielded from potential secondary deportation.
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