The 29-year-old fled El Salvador as a teen to flee gang violence. In line with The Hill, members of the Barrio 18 gang had threatened to kill him whereas making an attempt to extort cash from his mom’s pupusa enterprise. In 2019, he was granted “withholding of removing” standing, permitting him to reside and work legally within the U.S. Regardless of this safety, he was abruptly detained and deported in March.
Abrego Garcia’s case has sparked widespread concern over government overreach, due course of violations, and the present state of immigration enforcement. Be taught extra about his scenario and the place he’s now beneath.
Why Was Kilmar Abrego Garcia Deported?
Abrego Garcia was deported amid a broader crackdown by the Trump administration, which was quickly organizing constitution flights to El Salvador to deport a gaggle of Venezuelan migrants. These people have been accused of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang and have been deported below the Alien Enemies Act — an 18th-century wartime legislation that provides the president authority to take away non-citizens throughout occasions of nationwide battle.
In February 2025, the Trump administration formally designated MS-13 as a international terrorist group and launched aggressive efforts to take away suspected members. As a part of that coverage, officers have signaled intentions to proceed deporting non-citizens to CECOT — El Salvador’s mega jail referred to as the Terrorism Confinement Middle — even in instances like Abrego Garcia’s, the place proof of gang affiliation is unclear or disputed. The U.S. is presently paying El Salvador $6 million to detain people it alleges are members of the Tren de Aragua gang on the facility for one yr.
Will Kilmar Abrego Garcia Return to the U.S.?
It stays unclear whether or not Abrego Garcia will likely be allowed to return to the U.S., although many proceed to advocate strongly for his protected return to his dwelling and household. Regardless of a U.S. Supreme Court docket ruling ordering that the authorized resident should be introduced again, each the Trump administration and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele have made it clear they won’t facilitate his return.
“He’s an unlawful alien who has been residing illegally in our nation from El Salvador. ICE testified, an immigration decide dominated he was a member of MS-13. An appellate decide dominated he was a member of MS-13. Exhausting cease,” Lawyer Common Pam Bondi stated throughout a press briefing on April 16. “He shouldn’t be in our nation.”
Is Kilmar Abrego Garcia Nonetheless Alive?
On April 12, the U.S. State Division acknowledged in a courtroom submitting that Abrego Garcia was “alive and safe” in jail. Nevertheless, there was no direct or impartial affirmation of his situation since that submitting.
On April 16, Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, talking from the airport, stated he meant to go to El Salvador to “examine on [Abrego Garcia’s] well-being” and meet with Salvadoran officers.
After arriving, Van Hollen acknowledged, “I could be the first senator or first member of Congress to go all the way down to El Salvador, however persons are going to maintain coming till he comes dwelling.”
Following his assembly with Abrego Garcia, Van Hollen spoke with CNN on April 20 and identified, “If we deny the constitutional rights of this one man, it threatens the constitutional rights of everyone in America.” He was referring to the correct to due course of.
Is Kilmar Abrego Garcia Married to a U.S. Citizen?
After arriving within the U.S., Abrego Garcia constructed a life in Maryland. In line with TIME, courtroom data present he received married and was elevating three kids with disabilities. His spouse, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, is a U.S. citizen. The couple shares one baby collectively, and Sura has two kids from a earlier relationship.
