Overview

• Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident and Salvadoran national, was deported to El Salvador on March 15 due to an acknowledged administrative error.
• The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Trump administration must facilitate his release and ensure his case is handled as it would have been had he not been deported.
• The administration argued it lacked jurisdiction to act since Garcia is on Salvadoran soil, but the court rejected this claim while requiring further clarification on the lower court's directive to 'effectuate' his return.
• Garcia, who has no criminal record, was previously granted protection from deportation due to fears of gang persecution in El Salvador, which remains a central concern in his case.
• The ruling underscores tensions between judicial oversight and executive authority in immigration enforcement, with broader implications for due process in deportation cases.