- Kilmar Abrego Garcia surrendered Monday morning in Baltimore and faces possible deportation to Uganda.
- He was wrongly deported to El Salvador in March, returned to the U.S. in June, and now awaits trial on federal human smuggling charges in Tennessee.
- Attorneys call the prosecution “vindictive,” while the government alleges public-safety risks and gang ties that he denies.
The Big Picture
Kilmar Abrego Garcia on Monday reported to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Baltimore, where he could face removal proceedings that send him to Uganda. His surrender follows months of legal whiplash after he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March, then returned to the United States in June to face criminal charges. Associated Press first detailed the government’s latest effort to deport him to a third country.
What’s New
Immigration officials have signaled they intend to pursue removal to Uganda even as Abrego Garcia remains a pretrial defendant in a Tennessee smuggling case. His legal team says he previously declined a government offer to plead guilty and be sent to Costa Rica; they argue the renewed push for Uganda underscores retaliation. According to national reports, a federal judge has required the government to give notice before any removal steps, while not barring officials from pursuing lawful options.
What They’re Saying
Context
Abrego Garcia’s case has become a flashpoint in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. He was removed to El Salvador in March despite a prior ruling finding he faced persecution there, then returned to U.S. custody and transferred to Tennessee on smuggling charges tied to a 2022 stop. He has pleaded not guilty and denies government claims that he is affiliated with MS-13. Garcia’s supporters describe him as a Maryland construction worker and father who has lived in the state for years. His lawyers have moved to dismiss the case, calling it selective and vindictive prosecution, Court filings and news accounts say.
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