- Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been taken into ICE custody in Baltimore, reigniting controversy over his drawn-out immigration case.
- After being mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March and later returned to face human smuggling charges, US authorities now say he may be deported to Uganda. His legal team accuses the government of using deportation threats to coerce a guilty plea.
- A federal judge has temporarily barred his removal from the US, and a new lawsuit is underway challenging his detention and potential deportation.
The immigration saga surrounding Kilmar Abrego Garcia has taken another dramatic turn.
The Salvadoran national, who was mistakenly deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador earlier this year, has now been detained again — this time at a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Baltimore. His legal team says the move is part of a pressure campaign to force him into accepting a plea deal.
Abrego Garcia, who was returned to the US after officials admitted to an administrative error, is facing human smuggling charges in Tennessee. He has pleaded not guilty and declined a deal that would have seen him deported to Costa Rica. Now, US authorities are reportedly considering Uganda as his next destination — a country where he has no known ties.
His attorneys argue that the threat of deportation to Uganda is being used as leverage, calling it a punitive tactic aimed at punishing him for asserting his legal rights. A new federal lawsuit has been filed in Maryland, challenging both his detention and the possibility of being sent to a country with documented human rights concerns.
A court order has temporarily blocked any attempt to deport him or alter his legal status until Wednesday afternoon, pending further judicial review. The case has been assigned to Judge Paula Xinis, who previously oversaw the lawsuit that led to Abrego Garcia’s return from El Salvador.
Outside the ICE office, supporters gathered in protest, demanding justice and due process. The Department of Homeland Security maintains that Abrego Garcia poses a threat to public safety, citing allegations of gang affiliation and abuse — claims his legal team strongly denies.
The broader context includes bilateral deportation agreements signed under the Trump administration, which expanded the list of countries willing to accept deportees. Uganda, according to documents obtained by CBS News, prefers to receive individuals from African nations — raising questions about the legality and ethics of sending Abrego Garcia there.
As the legal battle intensifies, the case continues to draw global attention, highlighting the complex intersection of immigration policy, human rights, and political power.
