Overview

• Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident and legal immigrant, was deported on March 15, 2025, due to an administrative error, despite a 2019 court ruling protecting him from removal.
• A federal judge ordered his return by April 7, but the U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary stay, delaying his repatriation and intensifying legal disputes over executive overreach.
• Abrego Garcia, accused by U.S. officials of MS-13 gang ties, has no criminal record, and his family vehemently denies the allegations, citing his peaceful life in Maryland with his U.S. citizen wife and children.
• Lawmakers, including Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Rep. Adriano Espaillat, have condemned the deportation as a human rights violation and are pressing for his immediate release from El Salvador’s CECOT prison.
• The case has highlighted broader concerns over U.S. immigration enforcement practices, with critics alleging a pattern of targeting legal residents and dissenters under controversial policies.