U.S. administration not bringing back Kilmar Abrego Garcia

WASHINGTON D.C. - In a unanimous order in April 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. government must “facilitate” Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s return.

However, the Trump administration has indicated that it has no interest in bringing back a man it accuses of links to the international criminal gang MS-13.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an El Salvadoran citizen, was wrongly deported from the U.S. on March 15, 2025. He was living in Maryland with his wife and children.

Abrego Garcia illegally entered the U.S. in 2011 but lived under protected legal status. He had his removal withheld in 2019, meaning that he could possibly be deported to another country.

He was arrested on March 12, 2025 and sent to El Salvador a few days later. Abrego Garcia and his family sued officials of the Trump administration to ensure his return to the U.S. The administration admitted that Abrego Garcia was wrongfully deported.

Abrego Garcia was moved from CECOT (Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo; Terrorism Confinement Center), a notorious E Salvadoran prison, to a detention center.

The Supreme Court said that the federal courts need to give “due regard for the deference owed to the Executive Branch in the conduct of foreign affairs”.

Democrats accused Trump of misusing his power with his executive authority, while Republicans criticized Democrats for defending a man who could allegedly be an MS-13 gang member, which Abrego Garcia has no evidence of being.

On April 24, Illinois governor JB Pritzker announced that the state will take action against El Salvador for holding Abrego Garcia in custody.

“The United States Constitution guarantees due process. We are witnessing Donald Trump erode our fundamental Constitutional rights in real time, and we must fight to restore the balance of power,” he said.

Unfortunately, the U.S. does not have the jurisdiction to return Abrego Garcia. “That’s up to El Salvador if they want to return him.

That’s not up to us. The Supreme Court ruled that if El Salvador wants to return him … we would facilitate it: meaning, provide a plane,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said.

Prithvi Sudhakar is a third-year majoring in cybersecurity. To contact him, email pzs5683@psu.edu.