US Government Remains Silent on Steps to Return Mistakenly Deported Man from El Salvador

The Trump administration has acknowledged that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, mistakenly deported last month, is still detained in a notorious El Salvador prison. However, the administration has not clarified what steps are being taken to bring him back to the United States. The government only stated that Abrego Garcia, 29, is under El Salvador's jurisdiction.

Michael G Kozak, a "Senior Bureau Official" in the State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, confirmed Abrego Garcia's location to the court. His statement followed a hearing where a US government attorney struggled to provide US District Judge Paula Xinis with information about Abrego Garcia's whereabouts. The US Supreme Court had ruled that the Trump administration must facilitate his return.

Judge Demands Clarity on Deportation Case

Judge Xinis expressed frustration over the lack of information from the government. During a hearing, she asked repeatedly about Abrego Garcia's location and under whose authority he was being held. "Where is he and under whose authority?" she questioned, emphasizing that she was not seeking state secrets but simply wanted clarity on his status.

Drew Ensign, a deputy assistant attorney general, admitted he lacked personal knowledge of any actions or plans to return Abrego Garcia. He mentioned that the government was "actively considering what could be done," noting that the case involved coordination among three Cabinet agencies.

Legal Proceedings and Family Impact

Abrego Garcia has lived in the US for approximately 14 years. During this time, he worked in construction, got married, and was raising three children with disabilities. If returned, he will face allegations from 2019 by Maryland police accusing him of being an MS-13 gang member. He denied these claims and was never charged with any crime.

A US immigration judge had previously protected him from deportation due to potential persecution by local gangs in El Salvador. Despite this protection, the Trump administration deported him last month, later calling it "an administrative error" while maintaining he was part of MS-13.

Government's Response and Next Steps

The Justice Department did not immediately comment on Saturday evening when approached by the Associated Press. Judge Xinis ordered daily updates on plans to return Abrego Garcia before concluding the hearing. Kozak's statement confirmed that Abrego Garcia is held at the Terrorism Confinement Centre in El Salvador and is alive and secure there.

Kozak's statement did not address Judge Xinis' requirements for details on steps taken to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return. The judge had issued an order demanding disclosure of his "current physical location and custodial status" along with actions planned for his return.