Potential relocation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from the Trump administration to Uganda

In a developing story, the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national currently facing human smuggling charges in Tennessee, has sparked controversy.

On Monday morning, the government offered Garcia a plea deal where he would plead guilty to the two federal charges and be deported to Costa Rica. However, the Department of Homeland Security has since issued a notice to deport Garcia to Uganda within the coming days, a move his lawyers claim is "retaliation" by the government.

Garcia was released from criminal custody pending his trial on federal charges. The government renewed the Costa Rica offer on Friday evening, but minutes after his release, Garcia received the notice to be deported to Uganda.

Under a ruling by US District Judge Paula Xinis, officials are required to give Garcia and his lawyers a 72-hour heads up before they intend to carry out a deportation to a third country. This requirement is meant to give Garcia time to raise a claim that he may face torture or persecution in the third country identified by the government.

Garcia's lawyers have accused the government of using the notice to coerce him into accepting the plea deal. They argue that the offers are evidence of vindictive and selective prosecution by the government, a claim that supports their request for the case to be dismissed.

Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, an attorney for Garcia, stated that the move to send him to Uganda was a punitive measure. He added that the developments in the case support their complaint against the government's plan to deport Garcia to Uganda as a punishment for not accepting a plea deal and successfully fighting deportation to El Salvador earlier this year.

The government's actions, according to Garcia's lawyers, are aimed at punishing him for challenging his wrongful deportation. They state that the government's actions, if anything, emphasize their vindictiveness towards Garcia.

Costa Rica would accept Garcia as a refugee or give him some form of legal status, according to a letter from its government to a State Department official. However, the government has not responded to this offer.

CNN's Rafael Romo contributed to this report.

Potential relocation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from the Trump administration to Uganda