UPDATE: Kilmar Abrego Garcia is facing imminent deportation to Liberia by October 31, 2023, following a recent court filing from the Trump administration. This decision comes amidst a tumultuous legal battle that has drawn significant public attention and controversy.
Justice Department lawyer Drew Ensign confirmed in the filing, submitted on Friday, that Liberia is characterized as a “thriving democracy” and a key ally of the United States in Africa. Ensign emphasized Liberia’s commitment to human rights, pointing out that while Garcia has expressed fears of persecution in over 20 countries, Liberia is not included on that list.
This latest development marks a significant turn in Garcia’s case, which began earlier this year when he was deported to El Salvador, despite an immigration judge’s order that protected him from removal to that specific country. A federal judge subsequently mandated his return to the United States, only for Garcia to face criminal charges related to a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee.
After a judge ordered his release pending trial, immigration officials swiftly re-arrested him for deportation, and he has remained in immigration detention in Pennsylvania since then. The current deportation order explicitly prohibits sending him back to El Salvador due to threats from the 18th Street gang, a rival to MS-13, which U.S. officials allege he is affiliated with. As a result, the government has sought a “third country” to accept him.
Attempts to deport Garcia to Uganda, Eswatini, and Ghana have all failed, raising questions about the choice of Liberia, a nation with which he has no ties. Garcia’s attorney, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, has publicly condemned the decision, arguing that it serves to inflict unnecessary hardship. “ICE now seeks to deport our client to Liberia, thousands of miles from his family and home in Maryland,” Sandoval-Moshenberg stated. “These actions are punitive, cruel, and unconstitutional.”
Additionally, Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland has spoken out against the deportation, asserting that it undermines Garcia’s right to face pending criminal charges in the U.S. “The Trump administration has been desperately shopping for faraway countries they can ship Kilmar Abrego Garcia to in order to deny his constitutional due process right to defend himself against the charges they have brought,” Van Hollen said.
Garcia’s legal team is exploring options to block his deportation, including a recent application for asylum. If successful, this plea could halt the deportation process and allow him to remain in the United States.
The situation is developing rapidly, and advocates are urging immediate action to support Garcia. As this case unfolds, it raises critical questions about immigration policy and the treatment of individuals facing deportation amidst legal challenges.
Stay tuned for further updates as this urgent story develops.
