Wrongfully Deported: Maryland Man Abrego Garcia Makes His Triumphant Return to the U.S.

WASHINGTON — Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident, was returned to the U.S. on Friday after being wrongfully deported to El Salvador three months earlier, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced. Garcia’s deportation sparked controversies surrounding the due process rights of immigrants.

Federal officials acknowledged that his transfer to a notorious Salvadoran mega-prison stemmed from an administrative error. Despite this, President Trump and other officials maintained that Garcia could not be released due to unproven criminal allegations.

On Air Force One, Trump commented, “He should have never had to be returned. It’s a disaster.” Bondi stated that a federal warrant for human trafficking charges necessitated Garcia’s release from the Salvadoran prison system.

“Abrego Garcia has landed in the United States to face justice,” Bondi said during a Department of Justice conference, highlighting the seriousness of the charges against him. A 10-page indictment filed in Tennessee accuses him of transporting undocumented migrants within the U.S.

Chris Newman, representing Garcia’s family, expressed skepticism about the federal charges. “We should treat whatever charges are being leveled against him with a high degree of suspicion,” he said, emphasizing the need for a fair trial.

While the timeline of the investigation was unclear, Bondi mentioned new facts had emerged in Garcia’s case. “This is what American justice looks like; upon completion of his sentence, we anticipate he will be returned to his home country,” she noted.

Reports indicated Garcia’s arraignment is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday. His wrongful deportation led to widespread outrage, as the Trump administration faced criticism for defying federal court orders to return him.

El Salvador’s government was thanked for complying with the federal warrant. Despite ongoing arguments in court that Garcia was in Salvadoran custody, a $15 million agreement aimed to detain around 300 individuals removed from the U.S.

Garcia had deportation protections since 2019 but was apprehended by ICE agents in March and subsequently deported. The administration later admitted that his removal was an error but claimed he had gang affiliations without providing evidence in court.

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, who advocated for Garcia’s return, welcomed the decision as a significant win for due process rights, asserting, “This is not about the man, it’s about his constitutional rights.”

Last updated 5:44 p.m., Jun. 6, 2025