A federal judge has ordered a two-week investigation into the Trump administration’s refusal to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongfully deported from Maryland to a notorious prison in El Salvador.
U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis expressed frustration over the lack of action, saying, “To date, what the record shows is that nothing has been done. Nothing.” The inquiry could force senior officials to testify under oath regarding their failure to comply with court orders requiring Abrego Garcia’s return.
The investigation is a response to the escalating conflict over Abrego Garcia’s deportation, which violated a 2019 court order barring his deportation to El Salvador due to the risk of gang violence. While the administration has admitted to the error, it claims it no longer has the power to retrieve him, citing El Salvador’s jurisdiction. Judge Xinis called this response “stunning” and ordered senior officials from the Department of Homeland Security and State Department to testify by April 23.
The dispute centers on Abrego Garcia’s deportation after years of living in Maryland with his U.S. citizen family.
The Trump administration claims he has ties to the MS-13 gang, a connection which Judge Xinis has deemed unsubstantiated. Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt escalated the rhetoric, accusing Abrego Garcia of human trafficking without evidence. The administration has now stated that if Abrego Garcia returns, it would immediately detain him again and potentially deport him to another country.
Judge Xinis emphasized that the U.S. government is legally obligated to secure his release, aligning with a Supreme Court decision, and warned against delaying tactics, stating, “There is nothing to appeal.”
