UPDATE: Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man embroiled in a complex legal battle, is set to be deported to Liberia by October 31, 2023, according to a newly filed court document. This announcement, made by Justice Department lawyer Drew Ensign, raises significant concerns over the implications of such a move.
The administration claims that Liberia is a “thriving democracy” and a close ally of the United States. However, Garcia’s legal team argues that this decision disregards his ongoing asylum claims and the potential dangers he faces. While Garcia has cited fears of persecution in over 20 countries, Liberia is not among them, raising questions about the government’s decision-making process.
This development follows a tumultuous history for Garcia, who was initially deported to El Salvador earlier this year despite a judge’s ruling that protected him from removal to that country. A federal judge later mandated his return to the U.S., only for the Trump administration to pursue a criminal charge of human smuggling against him due to a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee. After a judge allowed his release pending trial, immigration officials re-arrested him for deportation, and he has remained in detention in Pennsylvania.
Garcia’s situation is exacerbated by threats from the 18th Street gang, which U.S. officials allege he is affiliated with, barring his return to El Salvador. This has led authorities to seek a “third country” for his deportation. Previous attempts to relocate him to Uganda, Eswatini, and Ghana have failed, and now ICE is pursuing Liberia as the next option.
His attorney, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, has condemned the decision, stating, “After failed attempts with Uganda, Eswatini, and Ghana, ICE now seeks to deport our client, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, to Liberia, a country with which he has no connection.” He further highlighted that Costa Rica is willing to accept Garcia as a refugee, arguing that the government’s chosen path is “punitive, cruel, and unconstitutional.”
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, a prominent supporter of Garcia, echoed these sentiments, asserting that the move denies him the right to face pending criminal charges. “The Trump administration has been desperately shopping for faraway countries they can ship Kilmar Abrego Garcia to in order to deny his constitutional due process right to defend himself,” Van Hollen declared.
The impending deportation threatens not only Garcia’s future but also effectively halts his pending criminal case. In a last-ditch effort to prevent his removal, Garcia has applied for asylum, intensifying the urgency of his situation.
This unfolding case is drawing widespread attention as advocates and lawmakers rally against what they see as an unjust and hasty deportation decision. With the deadline approaching, the stakes for Garcia—and the implications for U.S. immigration policy—are higher than ever.
As this situation develops, many are left wondering: will Garcia find refuge in Costa Rica, or will the government proceed with its controversial plan to send him to Liberia? The coming days will be critical in determining his fate. Stay tuned for updates as this story progresses.
