The U.S. government has admitted to wrongfully deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a noncitizen protected from removal under a 2019 court order, due to an "administrative error." Garcia, who arrived in the U.S. from El Salvador in 2011, was deported on March 15 despite protections that should have prevented his removal. He was sent to El Salvador's notorious "Terrorist Confinement Center" (CECOT), a high-security prison known for extreme conditions, including overcrowding and reports of torture.
Garcia’s deportation occurred amid a broader U.S. policy that has seen many deportations to El Salvador, often targeting individuals with alleged gang affiliations, a claim Garcia denies. His legal team argues there is no evidence to support the accusation that he is connected to the MS-13 gang, citing that Garcia fled El Salvador to escape gang violence. They filed a lawsuit demanding his return to the U.S. and for the government to stop funding his detention in El Salvador.
The deportation was discovered by Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, who saw images of him in the CECOT prison with a shaved head and white prison garb. Garcia's legal team has criticized the government's actions, arguing that they violated legal processes and ignored the risks of torture in El Salvador's prisons. Despite the court order protecting Garcia, the U.S. government claims that it had no jurisdiction to intervene.
This case has garnered attention from political figures, with Vice President JD Vance falsely labeling Garcia as a convicted gang member, despite the lack of criminal convictions. The lawsuit continues as Garcia's legal team seeks his release and accountability for the wrongful deportation.
References:
Smith, Patrick. Grumbach, Gary. “A man was sent to El Salvador due to ‘administrative error’ despite protected legal status, filings show” NBC News. April 1, 2025.
