The US and El Salvador have been at odds over the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who was mistakenly sent back to his home country. Nayib Bukele, El Salvador’s president, met with Donald Trump at the White House and said he couldn’t return Garcia to the US.
The Case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia
Garcia entered the US illegally in 2011 at 16. In 2019, a judge granted him “withholding of removal” status, allowing him to work legally. But on March 12, 2024, he was arrested and deported to El Salvador without being charged or convicted of a crime.
The US government later admitted that Garcia’s deportation was a mistake. Immigration officials knew he was protected from deportation, but he was sent back anyway.
Reactions from US Officials
Trump said he wants to deport as many illegal immigrants as possible to get rid of “dangerous criminals.” He praised El Salvador’s harsh prison conditions and offered to send US criminals to facilities like “Cecot.” Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, claimed there was no confusion about Garcia’s case, saying he was an illegal immigrant who had been sent back to his country.
Stephen Miller, Trump’s adviser, jumped in, saying the Supreme Court had ruled clearly on the matter. However, the court actually refused to block a lower court’s order to facilitate Garcia’s return to the US, voting 9-0.
The incident highlights the complexities and controversies surrounding US immigration policies and the treatment of deportees.