A Guatemalan man, previously deported to Mexico under the Trump administration, has been allowed back into the U.S. this week due to a judge’s ruling appointed by Biden.
The man, referred to as “O.C.G.,” was returned through a commercial flight, as confirmed by his legal team. He had been sent to Mexico in March, though the reasons for not being sent back to Guatemala remain unclear.
Following the court’s directive, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) organized O.C.G.’s return. After landing in California, he was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and later moved to a detention center in Arizona, according to reports.
This development stems from a ruling by U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Boston on May 23, where he mandated the man’s return after the Justice Department recognized that their claim—that O.C.G. had expressed no fear about being sent back to Mexico—was incorrect.
Judge Murphy asserted that O.C.G. had been deported to Mexico without receiving proper due process and ruled that efforts must be made to facilitate his return. He highlighted concerns about potential threats, such as “fears of rape and being held ransom,” based on details provided by O.C.G.’s attorneys.
“This case showcases the ordinary yet horrifying reality of someone wrongfully being sent back to a country where he faced severe risks,” Murphy commented, explaining that the removal process lacked any fair treatment.
He added that bringing O.C.G. back involves very little cost and is essential to uphold American ideals.
