Deported Maryland Resident Confirmed ‘Alive and Secure’ in El Salvador, U.S. Faces Legal Pressure

The U.S. confirmed Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia, mistakenly deported to El Salvador, is “alive and secure” in detention. Despite court orders for his return, the State Department hasn't detailed next steps. President Trump may address the issue in an upcoming meeting with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele.

The U.S. State Department confirmed that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident mistakenly deported to El Salvador, is “alive and secure” in a terrorism confinement center, amid growing legal and diplomatic scrutiny. Garcia, a Salvadoran national with a valid U.S. work permit since 2019, was removed from the country on March 15 despite a judicial order blocking his deportation.

The update came in a court filing from Michael Kozak of the State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, following a directive from U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, who demanded daily updates and swift action to facilitate Garcia’s return. However, the State Department did not outline any concrete steps being taken to bring him back, citing that he is now under El Salvador’s sovereign detention.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld Judge Xinis’ order for the government to “facilitate and effectuate” Garcia’s return. However, it also acknowledged ambiguity in the term “effectuate,” suggesting potential overreach of judicial authority. The Trump administration, while admitting Garcia’s removal was an error, has stated that international diplomacy cannot meet the pace of court directives.

President Donald Trump, who is scheduled to meet El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele at the White House on Monday, indicated willingness to support Garcia’s return—if explicitly directed by the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the administration has praised Bukele’s efforts in cooperating on immigration enforcement and combating terrorism.

As legal battles unfold and diplomatic talks loom, Garcia remains in custody in El Salvador, caught in a geopolitical tug-of-war. His fate now hinges on how the U.S. balances court orders with international negotiations.