Judge presses DOJ on plan to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia
Summary
A judge questioned the U.S. Department of Justice about their plan to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant, to Liberia within weeks. Abrego Garcia was previously deported to El Salvador despite a court order and is currently facing human smuggling charges in the U.S.Key Facts
- Kilmar Abrego Garcia is originally from El Salvador and was living in Maryland with his family.
- He was deported in March 2025 to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, despite a 2019 court order blocking such deportation due to risks of persecution.
- The Trump administration claimed Abrego Garcia was involved with the gang MS-13, which he denies.
- He was returned to the U.S. in June 2025 to face human smuggling charges in Tennessee and pleaded not guilty.
- The DOJ wants to deport him to Liberia, which they say has strong human rights protections and is safe.
- Garcia prefers Costa Rica, which has offered him refugee status, but the government insists on Liberia as the removal country.
- Judge Paula Xinis pressed the DOJ for clarity on how quickly the deportation would happen and questioned the impact on ongoing criminal proceedings.
- The judge ordered both sides to meet and come up with a joint proposal regarding the case.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
