Kilmar Abrego Garcia is set to be deported to Uganda, according to a notification from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to his legal team. The email, received on Saturday, came shortly after a US judge ordered Garcia’s release on Friday, marking a significant shift from ICE’s previous intention to send him to Costa Rica.
On August 25, 2025, the Trump administration had offered Garcia a deal to be deported to Costa Rica after serving any potential criminal sentence. This offer was contingent upon Garcia agreeing to extend his release and pleading guilty to the charges against him. Furthermore, the Costa Rican government confirmed that he would have the right to reside freely in the country without the risk of being sent elsewhere, including back to his home country of El Salvador.
Following his release, ICE instructed Garcia to report to their Enforcement and Removal Operations Office in Baltimore on Monday morning. Garcia initially sought asylum in the United States due to threats from the El Salvadoran gang Barrio 18, eventually securing a “withholding of removal” status eight months later. His legal troubles escalated in June when he was arrested by ICE officers without a warrant on his way home from work. He was subsequently deported to El Salvador, but a US judge later ordered his return based on his asylum status.
Legal Battles and Administration Responses
In April, US Judge Paula Xinis ordered Garcia’s return, a decision upheld by the US Supreme Court shortly thereafter. The court ruled that US courts have the authority to grant relief even after a migrant has been deported. Despite this ruling, both President Trump and El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele claimed they lacked the power to facilitate Garcia’s return. Judge Xinis mandated that the Trump administration provide daily updates on Garcia’s location and their compliance with her order.
On June 6, Garcia was returned to the US but faced new charges related to human smuggling, to which he pleaded not guilty. In response to his release, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem criticized the judicial decision, stating, “Activist liberal judges have attempted to obstruct our law enforcement every step of the way in removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from our country.”
Garcia’s legal team is leveraging ICE’s recent plans for his deportation as evidence of “vindictive and selective prosecution.” They argue that the administration’s actions reflect an agenda that targets individuals like Garcia without just cause.
As the situation unfolds, the implications for Garcia and the broader context of immigration enforcement in the United States remain critical points of discussion among legal experts and advocates. The upcoming report to ICE will likely shape the next steps in this complex case, which highlights the ongoing tensions between immigration policy, legal rights, and individual circumstances.
