Kilmar Abrego Garcia Detained in US, Could Be Deported to Uganda

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 30-year-old Salvadoran construction worker living in Maryland with his American wife and children, has once again been detained by U.S. immigration authorities in Baltimore. Garcia had previously been wrongfully deported to El Salvador, where he was subjected to severe physical and psychological abuse in the notorious CECOT mega-prison before being allowed to return to the U.S. Now, under the Trump administration, he faces another potential deportation — this time to Uganda.

According to court filings, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) intends to deport Garcia to Uganda, following a recent agreement between Uganda and the U.S. to accept certain deportees. His lawyers argue that the decision is an act of “vindictiveness” by the Trump administration. The plan to deport him to Uganda reportedly came after Garcia declined an offer to accept deportation to Costa Rica in exchange for pleading guilty to human smuggling charges and serving additional jail time.

Despite his detention on Monday, a blanket court order in Maryland temporarily halts immediate deportations of immigrants, including Garcia, who are challenging their detention in federal court. The order protects immigrants until 4:00 p.m. on the second business day after a habeas corpus petition is filed. This safeguard has been a source of tension, with the Trump administration having even sued all 15 federal judges in Maryland in June to challenge its use. Garcia’s legal team filed a lawsuit immediately after his detention, seeking an order to prevent his deportation while his due process rights are contested.

Garcia’s case has become a high-profile flashpoint in Trump’s broader crackdown on migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Since 2019, Garcia had been living under protected legal status after a judge ruled that deporting him to El Salvador would place him in danger. Despite this, he was previously deported due to what the Department of Justice later admitted was an “administrative error.” That wrongful deportation led to his abuse in prison in El Salvador, experiences that were documented in court filings as part of Garcia’s civil lawsuit against the Trump administration.

Garcia has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Nonetheless, he faces accusations of participating in the smuggling of undocumented migrants from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and other countries into the U.S. between 2016 and early 2025. His trial on human smuggling charges is scheduled for January 2027 in Tennessee. The Trump administration, however, is pushing for his deportation months before that trial, portraying him as a danger to the community and alleging that he is linked to the violent MS-13 gang. Garcia has denied the gang allegations, pleaded not guilty, and asked for dismissal of the charges on grounds of vindictive prosecution.

Following his latest detention, Garcia spoke at a rally before turning himself in, declaring his faith and trust in God to deliver justice. His wife was seen leaving the ICE offices in tears after his surrender. Garcia was released briefly from a Tennessee jail but remained in custody for fear that his freedom would prompt immediate deportation efforts by the administration. Justice Department officials maintain that the charges against Garcia prove he is a “clear danger” and insist he must either plead guilty or face trial.

Garcia’s case continues to highlight the Trump administration’s aggressive stance on immigration enforcement, its willingness to pursue controversial deportations, and the deep human toll of such policies on individuals and families living in the U.S.