Trump authorities set to expel Abrego Garcia back to Eswatini, Africa

In a series of unexpected twists, the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran native, has become a topic of intense debate. Abrego Garcia, who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador in March 2025 and imprisoned in the notorious CECOT mega-prison, has found himself in legal limbo once again.

In 2019, an immigration judge granted Abrego Garcia an order of removal, which prohibited his deportation to El Salvador. However, in June of this year, he was brought back to the U.S. to face human trafficking charges in Tennessee, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

The latest development in this complex saga involves Abrego Garcia's potential deportation to Uganda, a claim he vehemently opposes due to fears of persecution. This claim, however, has been met with scepticism from officials at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who have pointed out that Abrego Garcia has made similar claims in at least 22 other countries.

The countries listed in an ICE official's email include El Salvador, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Haiti. Despite these concerns, Abrego Garcia's attorneys have moved to reopen his case to seek asylum, arguing that his recent return to the U.S. makes him eligible to apply for asylum within one year of his last entry into the U.S.

The government, however, has taken a different stance. They claim that Abrego Garcia is a known member of the MS-13, a dangerous Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), and thus ineligible for asylum. They also argue that the request to reopen Abrego Garcia's immigration case should be denied because it "fails to show that country conditions in El Salvador have materially changed, and it further fails to establish that he is eligible for asylum."

The government asserts that Abrego Garcia's imprisonment at CECOT was both lawful and not specifically intended to cause pain or suffering. They also dismiss the attorneys' concerns about El Salvador's "gang-targeting tactics," arguing they "do not reflect the ultimate treatment" Abrego Garcia received after his wrongful deportation in March.

In a surprising turn of events, the government now plans to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Eswatini, Africa, despite his claims of fear of persecution in Uganda and other countries. Abrego Garcia's attorneys and families have repeatedly denied accusations that he is a member of MS-13, and they have expressed concern about his potential torture and persecution upon removal to Eswatini, citing its well-documented record of human rights violations.

As of the latest reports, Abrego Garcia is in ICE custody in Maryland awaiting legal proceedings. A federal judge has blocked his deportation until at least early October. If proceedings are reopened, Abrego Garcia will be required to establish "eligibility for any forms of relief or protection from El Salvador." The outcome of this case promises to be a significant test of the U.S. immigration system and its commitment to protecting individuals from persecution.