Located in Washington, Maintaining that her husband is “an amazing father” and “not a criminal,” the wife of a 29-year-old man who was wrongly deported to El Salvador, stated that she is concerned for his safety in the notorious mega-prison where he is being kept. The Trump government has recognised that the guy was deported to El Salvador.
As a part of a series of U.S. deportation flights that have sparked a high-stakes legal struggle in American courts, Kilmar Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador on March 15 and is currently being held in the maximum-security prison of that country, which is known as CECOT.
Since an immigration judge in 2019 had awarded him legal protection from being sent to El Salvador, the Trump administration has admitted in federal court that his deportation was a “administrative error.” This is because the judge had granted him legal protection from being deported to El Salvador. Nevertheless, it has denied requests to bring Abrego Garcia back, stating that the United States of America does not have custody of him anymore. In addition to this, it asserts that he is a member of the global criminal organisation known as MS-13. As stated in the court filings, the attorneys for Abrego Garcia have stated that their client does not have any criminal history, which is a finding that the government has not questioned.
After recognising her husband in a photograph that was published by the Salvadoran government, Jennifer Garcia, Abrego Garcia’s wife, stated that she had confirmed that her husband had been deported from the United States and was currently being held at the CECOT prison. This information was provided in an exclusive interview with CBS News.
“When I saw it, I immediately broke down ’cause I knew it was him,” she explained to me. “I was scared for his life.”
Jennifer, who asked that her surname be withheld, expressed that she was “very scared” about Abrego Garcia’s transfer to CECOT due to the fact that it is home to some of the most violent gang members in El Salvador. Following all, she stated that the reason a United States immigration judge gave him a respite from deportation in 2019 was due to the fact that there were concerns that he could be persecuted by gangs in El Salvador.
“I’ve seen news of that prison,” she responded. “I’ve seen both.” “I am aware that they deliver criminals there ” Aside from that, my husband is not a criminal.
In 2011, when he was 16 years old, Abrego Garcia arrived in the United States. The documents filed before the courtroom indicate that he entered the country unlawfully and without being subjected to an inspection by immigration officers.
During the year 2019, Abrego Garcia was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a confrontation with local law enforcement officers outside of a Home Depot in Maryland. According to the counsel for Abrego Garcia, he travelled there in search of employment. He was held in detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for a period of many months while an immigration court assessed his case.
An immigration judge first denied Abrego Garcia’s request to be released on bond, according to the records filed in the court. This decision was mainly based on material provided by the government, which it said linked Garcia to MS-13. The information that was stated in the judge’s decision to deny bond was received from an informant who the government considered to be trustworthy. This decision was supported by an immigration appeals board.
When another immigration judge awarded Abrego Garcia a “withholding of removal,” a legal designation that prevents officials from deporting individuals who demonstrate that they are more likely than not to face persecution in their home country, Abrego Garcia was ultimately released from the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In his order, the judge stated that if Abrego Garcia were to be returned to El Salvador, he would be at risk of being targeted by gangs.
It was reported by Jennifer that her husband went to regular check-ins with ICE after he was released from custody. She went on to say that he became the primary provider for their family and assisted her in the upbringing of their crippled son, who was five years old at the time, as well as two children from a prior relationship. She stated that he was attending college classes in addition to working as a sheet metal worker five days a week that he worked.
However, Abrego Garcia was taken into custody once more by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement on March 12th. Jennifer stated that he was taken into custody when he was travelling with their disabled kid, who was five years old at the time. Officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement informed her that her husband’s status had “changed” and that he would be fingerprinted and jailed. She stated that she rushed to the place and was informed by them.
Jennifer reported that her husband was moved to a number of different immigration detention centres over the course of the following several days. These centres included those located in Louisiana and Texas. Jennifer stated that Abrego Garcia informed her that he was about to be deported to El Salvador and imprisoned in CECOT during their most recent phone chat.
Jennifer expressed that she was unable to believe it. She informed her husband that there was no justification for the United States to send him to a prison in another country. He informed her that if she did not receive another call from him, it would be because he had been kicked out of the country permanently.
Jennifer stated that he had never called her. “I waited over and over again. That was never a call that he made.
Jennifer reported that she has not received any communication from her husband since that call, and she has not been able to find a means to be in touch with him. As part of a lawsuit that is currently being heard in the federal district court in Maryland, she is now also suing the government. The lawsuit is requesting that the United States government take action in order to bring Abrego Garcia back to the country.
On the other hand, the Trump administration has supported the merits of Abrego Garcia’s deportation and has informed the federal court in Maryland that it is opposed to his return to the United States of America, despite the fact that it has admitted that it deported him in error.
The United States Department of Justice has contended that federal courts do not have the authority to enable Abrego Garcia’s repatriation because he is now being held by the government of El Salvador and is no longer in the custody of the United States. The Justice Department stated in a filing that even if they did have the authority to order his return, there has been “no showing that El Salvador is even inclined to consider a request to release a detainee at the United States’ request.” This is despite the fact that El Salvador has the ability to order his return.
Officials in the Trump administration, notably Karoline Leavitt, who serves as the press secretary for the White House, have referred to Abrego Garcia as a “leader” of the MS-13 organisation and are suspected of being involved in human trafficking. Those claims have not been backed up by any concrete proof that has been disclosed by the officials.
Jennifer vehemently denied the allegations made by the White House, stating that she would be aware of the fact that her husband was a part of a gang. According to the documents filed with the court, Abrego Garcia has been ticketed for traffic offences in the United States, but he has not been charged with or convicted of any criminal offences.
It was Jennifer who stated, “He is not a criminal.” As a person, my hubby is very remarkable. A truly remarkable father.”
