Trump administration mistakenly deports protected immigrant to Salvadoran prison

In March 2025, the Trump administration mistakenly deported Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant with protected status in the United States, to El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison. The deportation occurred despite the fact that Abrego Garcia had been living in the U.S. since approximately 2011 and had been granted protection from removal due to fears of persecution he faced from gangs in his home country. His immigration status was changed in early March, and just days later, he was sent to El Salvador without proper legal justification. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) admitted this was an administrative error but claimed that U.S. courts lack jurisdiction over his case, as he was no longer in U.S. custody. Meanwhile, Abrego Garcia's family has filed a lawsuit demanding his return to the United States, highlighting their concern over the legality and morality of the administration's actions. This incident raised significant alarm over the use of emergency powers for deportations under the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798, as it now appears the definition of gang affiliations is being loosely applied, leading to questionable removals based on minor indicators like tattoos. This scenario pertains not just to Abrego Garcia but also to a wider policy of deporting undocumented immigrants, which critics argue could lead to wrongful deaths or abuses in detention facilities in El Salvador. The implications of this case reflect ongoing tensions regarding immigration policy, civil liberty protections, and the balance of power between the executive and judicial branches in the U.S.