Nayib Bukele refuses to return wrongly deported Maryland man to US

El Salvador, a Central American country, has been in the spotlight due to a high-profile case involving the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident. Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador, despite having been granted protective status by the U.S. courts in 2019. During his deportation, the Trump administration labeled him as a member of the MS-13 gang, a claim his family vehemently denies. A federal judge has since determined that his removal was illegal and ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the United States, a decision affirmed by the Supreme Court. President Nayib Bukele, meeting with Trump, expressed that he lacks the authority to return Abrego Garcia, calling the suggestion of sending him back 'preposterous.' Bukele also described Garcia as a 'terrorist,' directly contradicting assertions made by U.S. judicial authorities regarding his gang affiliation. This incident has raised legal and diplomatic questions about the rights of deportees, especially since the U.S. acknowledges the deportation as an 'administrative error' but simultaneously maintains that Garcia is a gang member. Furthermore, Trump’s administration has emphasized that it does not believe it has the jurisdiction to compel El Salvador to release Garcia despite judicial rulings. The situation has garnered attention from immigration advocates, who argue that the continued detention of Abrego Garcia threatens his safety. They express outrage over his deportation and the apparent disregard for legal processes that ordered his return. Advocacy groups assert that the implications of this case extend beyond Garcia himself, highlighting the broader concerns regarding U.S. foreign and immigration policy, particularly the authoritative power wielded by the executive branch over deportation matters, potentially sidelining the judiciary. As the issue evolves, both the U.S. and El Salvador continue to navigate their diplomatic relationship amid immigration challenges. Bukele, who has cooperated with the Trump administration in deportation initiatives, now faces pressure as the legality and morality of returning wrongly deported citizens come under scrutiny.