El Salvador's President Bukele Refuses to Return Accidentally Deported Maryland Father
Why It Matters: Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old Maryland father, was deported to El Salvador on March 15 despite a 2019 court order prohibiting his return over fears of gang persecution. U.S. officials claim he's an MS-13 member but have provided little evidence.
During an Oval Office news conference with President Donald Trump, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele was asked if he planned to return Garcia. Bukele replied sharply: "How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? Of course, I'm not going to do it. The question is preposterous."
"I don't have the power to return him to the United States," Bukele stated, defying a U.S. Supreme Court order to facilitate Garcia's return.
The Trump administration confirmed Saturday that Garcia is "alive and secure" under El Salvador's authority at the high-security CECOT prison. This comes after a 9-0 Supreme Court ruling last week ordering the administration to facilitate his return.
Conflicting Claims and Legal Battles
White House officials, including immigration hardliner Stephen Miller, claimed the Supreme Court ruling was in their favor and didn't compel Garcia's return. Miller repeated unsubstantiated claims that Garcia was an MS-13 member, describing the gang's brutal activities.
However, Garcia's attorneys and wife maintain his innocence, stating he has no criminal record and worked hard to support his children. The Department of Justice has provided no physical evidence supporting the MS-13 claims.
What Officials Are Saying
Attorney General Pam Bondi: "First and foremost, he was illegally in our country... Right now, additional paperwork had needed to be done, that's up to El Salvador if they want to return him."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio: "The foreign policy of the United States is conducted by the President of the United States, not by a court."
What's Next
With both nations claiming inability to return Garcia, his fate remains uncertain. The DOJ must continue providing daily updates to the Maryland District Court overseeing this controversial case that highlights tensions between executive power and judicial authority in immigration matters.