The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a removal order for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a high-profile illegal immigrant accused of human smuggling, to be deported to the southern African nation of Eswatini. Previously, the deportation was set for Uganda, but after Abrego Garcia’s attorneys claimed he feared persecution in that country and more than 20 others, the DHS changed the destination.
Abrego Garcia, an El Salvador native, has a contentious history with U.S. immigration authorities. He was first deported in March and made an illegal reentry in June. He is currently facing trial for human smuggling charges stemming from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee, where he was apprehended transporting several non-citizens across the United States, according to reports by the Conservative Brief.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has described Abrego Garcia as a "human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator," and alleges he is a member of the notorious MS-13 gang. His case has been a focal point in the broader debate over immigration enforcement and due process.
The DHS removal notice, which was publicly shared on its official social media account, expressed skepticism about the breadth of Abrego Garcia's claims of fear, stating, “That claim of fear is hard to take seriously, especially given that you have claimed (through your attorneys) that you fear persecution or torture in at least 22 different countries.”
Despite DHS's stance, Abrego Garcia's deportation to Uganda was temporarily blocked by U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, an Obama appointee, who cited his claims of fear of persecution. Meanwhile, Democrats and immigrant-rights groups have rallied in support of Abrego Garcia, arguing that his case underscores what they view as the Trump administration's disregard for due process.
Chris Newman, an attorney representing Abrego Garcia's family, has vehemently denied the allegations against his client, accusing the administration of "weaponizing the justice system." Court filings reveal that the Justice Department offered Abrego Garcia a plea deal that would allow him to be deported to Costa Rica, where he would be granted residency or refugee status. However, Abrego Garcia rejected this deal.
Sean Hecker, another attorney for Abrego Garcia, has claimed that the government's actions amount to coercion, forcing his client to choose between pleading guilty or facing potential danger in Uganda. These developments come after Abrego Garcia was released from a Tennessee jail, where he had been detained since his illegal reentry.
For now, Abrego Garcia remains in custody at an immigration detention facility in Virginia, as the legal and political battles surrounding his case continue.
