The Trump administration delivered a wellness update on Saturday to a Maryland resident who was wrongly deported to El Salvador, marking the first daily report required by a court ruling.
US District Judge Paula Sinis instructed the White House on Friday to document the status of Kilmer Abrego Garcia. He is currently held at the country’s largest security facility, CECOT.
“He resides in the facility and is secure. His detention complies with the sovereignty of El Salvador’s national authorities,” stated Michael Kozak, head of the State Department. Saturday report.
This information was derived from an official report issued by the US Embassy in San Salvador.
The attorneys representing Abrego Garcia argue that the federal government is insufficiently pushing long-standing efforts to facilitate their client’s return.
The Trump administration has acknowledged that Abrego Garcia’s removal was due to “administrative mistakes,” but continues to assert that the president cannot be compelled to coordinate his return, as it now falls under the jurisdiction of Salvadoran authorities.
Despite multiple appeals, the Supreme Court upheld Sinis’ decision, affirming that US officials must “facilitate” the return of individuals from Maryland.
Abrego Garcia was granted protection from removal by the U.S. Immigration Court in 2019, due to concerns about violence and persecution from gangs in his home country should he return.
While his legal dispute continued in court, Abrego Garcia’s lawyers Requested Order on Saturday urges Sinis to ask the federal government to officially petition for their client’s release from CECOT, prepare all required documents for his return, send them to Abrego Garcia to assist him during his journey, and secure air transport for his return to Maryland.
