The Trump administration issued its first court-mandated update Saturday on Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador.
According to U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis’ order, the administration must now provide daily updates on Abrego Garcia’s status to ensure compliance with her directive to facilitate his return to the U.S.
In a filing, State Department official Michael Kozack confirmed that Abrego Garcia is “alive and secure” while being held in El Salvador’s maximum-security CECOT prison. The update was based on reports from the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador.
Abrego Garcia’s legal team argues the government should be held in contempt for delaying his return. While the administration admits he was deported due to an “administrative error,” it claims the president can’t be compelled to secure his release, as he is now under Salvadoran custody. However, the Supreme Court has upheld Judge Xinis’ ruling requiring U.S. officials to facilitate his return.
In 2019, Abrego Garcia was granted protection from deportation by a U.S. immigration court due to credible threats of violence from gangs in El Salvador. His attorneys have now filed a proposed order asking Judge Xinis to compel the government to formally request his release from CECOT, complete all necessary paperwork, assign personnel for travel escort, and provide transportation back to Maryland, noting that he may not have the ID needed to fly commercially.
