U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the Department of Justice—not him—was responsible for bringing back Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man mistakenly deported from Maryland before criminal charges were filed. Speaking to NBC News, Trump said, "That wasn’t my decision. The Department of Justice decided to do it that way, and that’s fine," distancing himself from the controversial move.
Abrego Garcia, 29, was returned to the U.S. to face federal charges for transporting undocumented immigrants. His deportation on March 15 drew criticism as he was removed more than two months before the charges were officially filed. Immigration advocates and civil rights groups argued the incident highlighted flaws in Trump’s immigration policies and raised concerns over due process violations.
Abrego Garcia had been living legally in the U.S. with a work permit. His wife and young child, both U.S. citizens, reside in Maryland. A 2019 U.S. immigration judge had barred his deportation to El Salvador due to credible threats from local gangs. Despite that, he was deported and briefly imprisoned in El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center before being flown back.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that if convicted, Abrego Garcia would be deported after serving his sentence. Trump reiterated his belief that the case would be “very easy,” alleging Garcia had a “horrible record of abuse” against women. However, his legal team strongly denies these claims, with attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg calling the charges “fantastical.”
Trump also noted he hadn’t discussed the case with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. The controversy underscores ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement and the legal rights of migrants under the Trump administration’s crackdown. Garcia’s arraignment is scheduled for June 13 in Nashville, where he remains in federal custody.