Nationwide — El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said he will not send back Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported from the U.S., despite the Supreme Court ordering his return. The U.S. called the removal illegal but hasn’t taken steps to reverse it.
Bukele further emphasized, “We’re not very fond of releasing terrorists.” Trump and his officials backed Bukele, calling the deportation justified.
Abrego Garcia was deported in violation of a 2019 immigration judge’s order that barred his removal to El Salvador. The U.S. Supreme Court confirmed the deportation was unlawful and directed the government to help bring him back. However, the Department of Homeland Security says it cannot retrieve someone held by another country.
Trump adviser Stephen Miller denied that the deportation was a mistake and claimed Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang. However, court documents show he has no criminal record in either country, and the gang allegations rely on a single, unverified tip.
Abrego Garcia is currently in a maximum-security prison in El Salvador. His lawyers say the U.S. must take responsibility for the illegal removal and follow the Supreme Court’s directive. A federal judge is also urging action, with a hearing scheduled for Tuesday.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials maintain that only El Salvador can decide to send him back, and Bukele has made it clear he has no plans to do that.