Federal Judge Questions Deportation Plans for Kilmar Abrego Garcia

Thu Dec 11 2025 18:42:37 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Amid legal challenges and public outcry, a Maryland federal judge seeks clarity on the government's plans to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia, given his family ties and asylum claims.

In a recent hearing, a federal judge in Maryland enquired why Kilmar Abrego Garcia, slated for deportation to Liberia, couldn't instead be relocated to a third country. Garcia, who has familial ties in the U.S. and fears returning to El Salvador, is caught in a legal quagmire as the government presses ahead with his deportation despite ongoing asylum proceedings.

GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — A federal judge in Maryland on Monday pressed government attorneys for assurances that Kilmar Abrego Garcia would not be deported before a court lifts the current injunction against his removal. Garcia awaits a decision regarding his fate as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aims to deport him to Liberia by this Friday.

Garcia, originally from El Salvador, has an American wife and child, having resided in Maryland for years after entering the U.S. illegally as a teenager. In 2019, he was granted protection from deportation due to credible fears of gang violence in El Salvador. His erroneous deportation to El Salvador earlier this year ignited widespread criticism of the Trump administration's immigration policies, as he was held in a violent prison despite a clean record.

During a recent status conference, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis questioned the rationale behind ICE's plan to deport Garcia to Liberia when he had expressed willingness to relocate to Costa Rica, a country that would grant him legal status. The judge noted that both parties were risking unnecessary expenses by disputing the legality of the deportation to Liberia.

Government lawyers were unable to offer immediate clarification but hinted that information regarding Garcia's potential deportation might be included in a forthcoming court filing. Meanwhile, ICE is arranging to question Garcia following his submission of a statement expressing fears about being sent back to Liberia.

Garcia's attorney revealed that they have received some confidential documents from the Liberian government concerning how Garcia would be treated, yet expressed dissatisfaction with the limited assurances provided. Advocacy groups have raised concerns about the legal frameworks supporting deportations to third countries, arguing that such actions disregard immigrants' rights, especially when those countries have dubious human rights records.

The legal landscape is further complicated by the Supreme Court's previous ruling that allows expedited deportations to countries other than immigrants' homelands, adding urgency to the ongoing legal battles surrounding Garcia's case.

In June, after public outcry, Garcia was returned to the U.S. but faced smuggling charges in Tennessee. The upcoming hearing on his motion to dismiss these charges raises additional complications regarding his deportation, as Judge Xinis remarked that removing him could effectively end his criminal case.

As Garcia's situation remains uncertain, he has also filed an asylum request in the U.S., raising critical questions about the future of his life and family ties in America.