Maryland Man Wrongly Deported to El Salvador Prison, Judge Orders Return to the US

A federal judge ruled to return a Maryland man, Kilmer Armado Abrego-Garcia, back to the US after US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) admitted an “administrative error” led to his deportation. He is being held at a notorious prison in El Salvador, despite having a protected legal status. 

The Details: Abrego-Garcia's attorneys had previously filed a lawsuit requesting that the El Salvador government return him to the US, saying he has no affiliation to Tren de Aragua, MS-13, or any other criminal gang. Since he is no longer in US custody, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) argued the court cannot order his return to the US. 

For Context: Abrego-Garcia came to the US in 2011 from El Salvador. In 2019, a confidential informant alleged Abrego-Garcia was a member of MS-13. However, when he applied for withholding of removal later that year, a judge granted it. Vice President JD Vance falsely referred to Abergo-Garcia as a “convicted MS-13 gang member.” ICE said they were aware of his protection from removal, but he was still deported due to an “administrative error.”

How The Media Covered It: The story was predominately covered on the left and center. Several outlets emphasized that Abrego-Garcia is a father. NBC News (Lean Left bias) added, “After finishing his shift as a sheet metal worker and picking up his child, Garcia was pulled over and arrested by Homeland Security agents…ICE officers allegedly told him that his wife had to collect the couple's child within 10 minutes or he would be handed over to Child Protective Services… She arrived and found Garcia 'confused, distraught and crying,' but she received no explanation for his arrest, the filing says.” Updated 4/7/25 to specify that Abrego Garcia applied for withholding of removal, rather than asylum.

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