Salvadoran Man Kilmar Abrego Garcia Released After Mistaken Deportation

A Salvadoran man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, has been released from jail after a series of events that included a mistaken deportation and subsequent criminal charges. His attorney, Sean Hecker, confirmed to the BBC that Garcia is now free and plans to return to his family in Maryland.

Garcia, who was deported to El Salvador in March 2025, was held in the notorious Cecot prison. U.S. government officials later acknowledged that his deportation was an error, which highlighted flaws in the immigration enforcement policies of the Trump administration. He was returned to the United States in June 2025 and charged in connection with a human smuggling scheme in Tennessee. Garcia has pleaded not guilty to these charges.

His family awaits his return after enduring a prolonged separation. Garcia has a wife and two children, making this reunion significant as it marks the first time he will be fully with them since his deportation. The circumstances surrounding his case have raised concerns among his legal team. They fear he may be detained again by immigration authorities upon his arrival in Maryland, potentially leading to another deportation.

Garcia originally entered the U.S. illegally as a teenager. After being arrested in Maryland in 2019 along with three other men, he was detained by federal immigration authorities. Later that year, an immigration judge granted him protection from deportation, citing the possible danger from gang violence if he were to return to El Salvador. Despite this, he was deported in March 2025, a decision that was later deemed erroneous by officials.

Following his return to the U.S. to face charges, Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, stated, “This is what American justice looks like.” Garcia’s legal team has described the trafficking charges as “preposterous.” In late June 2025, a federal judge ruled that Garcia was eligible for release but he remained in custody due to concerns from his legal team about the risk of immediate deportation.

The Trump administration has suggested that they may seek to remove Garcia and deport him to either Mexico or South Sudan. A judge has mandated that the administration must provide legal counsel with prior notice should they decide to pursue his deportation. Garcia’s ordeal illustrates the broader implications of immigration policy and its impact on individuals and families caught in the system.

As he returns home, Garcia’s situation continues to reflect ongoing debates about immigration enforcement and the rights of those affected by such policies. The case serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in immigration law and the human stories behind the statistics.