A U.S. federal court on Friday ordered the Trump administration to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States. He was wrongly deported to El Salvador. The court gave the government three days to bring him back.
Mistake in Deportation
Garcia, a Maryland resident, held a valid U.S. work visa. However, officials placed him on a deportation flight last month. They claimed he had links to violent gangs. Later, they admitted they deported him by mistake.
Still, the administration now says it has no legal power to bring him back. In response, his lawyers strongly disagree.
“They put him there, they can bring him back,” said Andrew Rossman, a lawyer from the firm Quinn Emanuel who joined Garcia’s legal team.
Court Demands Fast Action
During a hearing in Greenbelt, Maryland, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis questioned government lawyers. Afterward, she ordered them to return Garcia by April 7.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department announced it will appeal the decision. Officials plan to take the case to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia.
White House Responds
Shortly after the ruling, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded. She said Judge Xinis should speak with El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele.
“We are unaware of the judge having jurisdiction or authority over the country of El Salvador,” she said.
Legal Team Says Deportation Was Unlawful
At the hearing, Garcia’s attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg argued the deportation lacked legal grounds. “They admit they had no legal authorization to remove him to El Salvador,” he told the judge. “The public interest lies in the government following the law.”
Government Lawyer Admits Error
Even the government’s lawyer, Erez Reuveni, agreed that the deportation was a mistake. “That is not in dispute,” he said.
Then, Judge Xinis asked why the U.S. hasn’t brought Garcia back. Reuveni said he had already asked officials the same question but got no clear answer. “The absence of evidence speaks for itself,” he said.
Broader Immigration Crackdown
This case comes during a wider legal fight over the Trump administration’s immigration policies. For instance, another judge is reviewing whether officials violated a court order while deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members.
Earlier, on March 15, Trump used the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. That day, two deportation flights carried people removed under that law. A third flight followed normal procedures.
Unfortunately, Garcia was placed on the third flight. This happened despite a court ruling in 2019 that had protected him from deportation.
Arrest and Family Details
ICE officers arrested Garcia on March 12. They questioned him about alleged gang ties. Back in 2019, the government also accused him of being in MS-13. Garcia denied the claims both times.
His lawyers also represent his wife and five-year-old child. Both are U.S. citizens. His wife attended Friday’s hearing.
No Steps Taken to Fix Mistake
In court filings, Garcia’s legal team said the U.S. government has done nothing to correct its error. “To rectify what they themselves describe as an error,” the lawyers wrote.
Crackdown Continues
Despite this case, the Trump administration continues its hard stance on immigration. It has deployed troops to the U.S.-Mexico border and reassigned federal agents. Deportations and arrests have increased sharply.
