Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland father wrongfully deported to El Salvador earlier this year, has been taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after voluntarily reporting to a Baltimore facility. His case has drawn national attention as the Trump administration weighs deporting him to a third country. Supporters call his treatment retaliation, while officials insist his detention follows immigration protocol.
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Wrongful Deportation Case
Abrego Garcia’s ordeal began in March when he was deported to El Salvador despite a 2019 court order barring his removal to the country. He was held in a notorious mega-prison until June, when the Trump administration brought him back to the U.S. to face federal charges tied to an alleged human smuggling case in Tennessee. His deportation has since been widely condemned as unlawful.
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Taken Into ICE Custody
On Monday, Abrego Garcia turned himself in to ICE in Baltimore, fulfilling a requirement under a federal judge’s order that places him under agency supervision. His lawyer, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, told CNN earlier that detention was expected. The judge’s ruling allows Abrego Garcia to live and work in Maryland, though it does not prevent the administration from deporting him to another country.
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Emotional Plea Before Surrender
Ahead of entering the facility, Abrego Garcia addressed family members, activists, and community leaders. “Regardless of what happens today in my ICE check-in, promise me this,” he said. “Promise me that you will continue to pray, continue to fight, resist and love, not just for me, but for everybody.” His remarks underscored the uncertainty of his fate.
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Threat of Deportation to Uganda
The Department of Homeland Security has notified Abrego Garcia’s attorneys that deportation to Uganda could happen within days. The notification arrived just minutes after he was released from federal custody in Tennessee. Advocates fear the move is part of a broader strategy to punish him for challenging his wrongful deportation.
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Activists Decry Retaliation
At the rally outside ICE, Lydia Walther-Rodriguez of CASA accused the Trump administration of making Abrego Garcia “a martyr for having the courage to stand up to this administration’s illegal deportation practices.” She added, “They’re throwing the entire federal apparatus at one father of three to prove that no one should dare challenge their authority.”
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Legal Pressure and Plea Deal
Court filings reveal that federal prosecutors offered to deport Abrego Garcia to Costa Rica if he accepted a guilty plea. His lawyers argued this showed the government’s intent to retaliate against him. The deadline for the plea deal was set for Monday morning, adding pressure to an already volatile legal battle.
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Political Support and Family Struggles
Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who visited Abrego Garcia in El Salvador earlier this year, reaffirmed his support. “We will stay in this fight for justice and due process,” he said, warning that denying his rights would endanger those of others. For Abrego Garcia, memories of his wife and three children remain a source of strength: “When I was detained, I remembered memories with my family: going to the park with them, going to the trampoline with my children. Those moments will continue to give me hope to continue in this fight.”