The Trump administration is seeking to end a court order that currently prevents the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, aiming to remove him to Liberia.
Government Says Fear Claim Was Denied
Overnight court filings show that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently rejected Abrego Garcia’s claim that he would face torture or persecution in Liberia. Government attorneys argued that the injunction blocking his removal should now be dissolved, citing assurances from Liberian officials that he would not be harmed.
The Department of Justice also argued that Abrego Garcia’s attempt to challenge removal is improper because he is already part of a broader class-action case concerning third-country removals — a case in which the Supreme Court previously allowed the administration to continue transfers.
Past Deportation and Legal Background
Abrego Garcia, originally from El Salvador, had been living in Maryland with his family. Despite a 2019 court order preventing his deportation due to fear of persecution, he was deported to El Salvador in March and sent to the country’s CECOT mega-prison. He was later returned to the U.S. to face human smuggling charges in Tennessee, where he has pleaded not guilty.
The DOJ has labeled him a member of MS-13 and says deportation is “in the public interest.”
Defense Argues Due Process Violations
Attorneys for Abrego Garcia are now asking a federal judge to block the removal until an immigration judge reviews the denial of his fear claim. They argue that the government relied on the determination of a single officer and failed to provide meaningful due process.
They also say the government has cycled him through multiple proposed deportation destinations — Uganda, Eswatini, Ghana, and now Liberia — without proper notice or individualized consideration. His lawyers argue that Costa Rica had previously offered to accept him, but the U.S. has ignored that option.
Current Status
Abrego Garcia is currently detained in Pennsylvania, awaiting the next court decision.
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