A Salvadoran man wrongfully deported from Maryland to a high-security prison in El Salvador is reportedly “alive and secure,” a US official said following a Supreme Court order demanding his release and repatriation.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 29, is being held at the infamous Cecot prison, confirmed State Department official Michael Kozak.
The facility is known for detaining individuals accused of terrorism and gang activity.
Garcia’s deportation, which took place last month, was acknowledged by US authorities as a procedural error.
Nevertheless, they insist he is associated with the MS-13 gang—an accusation his attorney refutes.
Originally arrested in Maryland in 2019, Garcia was granted protection from deportation by an immigration judge, who cited potential danger from gangs in El Salvador.
Despite this, he was removed alongside over 200 other migrants under a Trump-era agreement with El Salvador.
The Trump administration resisted calls to help him return, arguing that Judge Paula Xinis had overstepped her authority in issuing the order.
However, the Supreme Court intervened this week, unanimously supporting her directive to bring Garcia back.
Judge Xinis has since ordered federal officials to provide daily updates on the progress of Garcia’s repatriation.
His legal team has accused the government of dragging its feet and risking their client’s life by refusing to follow legal rulings.
Trump has signalled he will follow the Supreme Court’s decision, stating, “If they say bring him back, I will do that.”
Ahead of his upcoming meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, Trump praised El Salvador for accepting the deportees, referring to them as “barbarians” and declaring that they would no longer pose a threat to American citizens.