Kilmar Abrego García, mistakenly deported to El Salvador despite legal status in the U.S., has been returned to face federal charges for allegedly transporting undocumented migrants, highlighting ongoing tensions in U.S. immigration enforcement.

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Kilmar Abrego García, a Salvadoran man who was wrongfully deported from Maryland to El Salvador in March 2025 despite holding legal status and a work permit, has returned to the United States to face federal criminal charges.

His case has become a focal point in debates over immigration enforcement, judicial authority, and due process under the Trump administration, which initially resisted court orders to facilitate his return.

Charges Against Abrego García and Alleged Criminal Activity

According to a sealed indictment unsealed in early June, Abrego García faces two counts: conspiracy to unlawfully transport undocumented migrants for financial gain and unlawful transportation of undocumented migrants for profit.

The indictment alleges that over nearly a decade, he participated in a conspiracy that transported thousands of undocumented migrants from Texas into the interior of the U.S., including some minors and alleged gang affiliates. Authorities claim he made over 100 such trips, with potential sentences reaching decades in prison if convicted.

After months of ignoring our Constitution, it seems the Trump Admin has relented to our demands for compliance with court orders and due process for Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

This has never been about the man—it’s about his constitutional rights & the rights of all.

Full statement: pic.twitter.com/q28RLNEj2S

— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) June 6, 2025

Abrego García’s deportation to El Salvador was deemed an “administrative error” by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as it violated a 2019 court order that barred his removal to El Salvador due to credible fears of persecution by gangs.

After being sent to the notorious CECOT mega-prison in El Salvador, his case sparked a legal standoff between the Trump administration and the federal judiciary. Federal judges ordered the government to facilitate his return, but the administration delayed compliance, citing diplomatic hurdles with El Salvador.

The case has drawn attention from politicians across the spectrum. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele expressed willingness to cooperate with the U.S. government regarding Abrego García’s prosecution.

Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers, including Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, have highlighted concerns about due process and the rights of immigrants, emphasizing that the case is about constitutional protections rather than individual guilt.

The administration’s aggressive stance on immigration enforcement, combined with this high-profile case, underscores ongoing tensions in U.S. immigration policy and the challenges faced by migrants caught in the system.

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