➤ The US government said that it has made a mistake by sending a Maryland man to a dangerous prison in El Salvador, even though he was legally allowed to stay in the US. The government has admitted its mistake, but it’s not clear whether the man will be returned to the US.
The US government said that it has made a mistake by sending a Maryland man to a dangerous prison in El Salvador, even though he was legally allowed to stay in the US. The government has admitted its mistake, but it’s not clear whether the man will be returned to the US.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a 29-year-old man who came to the US from El Salvador. In 2019, Mr. Abrego Garcia was given permission to stay in the US. He is required to check in with the US government every year.
Mr. Abrego Garcia lived in Maryland with his wife, who is a US citizen, and their children. His family says he has never been in trouble with the law.
But Mr. Abrego Garcia was arrested on March 12. On March 15, he was sent to El Salvador, where he was put in a prison that’s known for its terrible conditions.
On March 31, lawyers for the US government admitted that sending Mr. Abrego Garcia to El Salvador was a mistake. They say it was an “oversight”. But they still say Mr. Abrego Garcia should not be brought back. The government claims it can’t force El Salvador to return Mr. Abrego Garcia.
Mr. Abrego Garcia’s family and lawyers disagree. They want the US to work to bring Mr. Abrego Garcia home. They say the US government should stop paying El Salvador to keep people in prison until it returns Mr. Abrego Garcia.
So far, despite the mistake, the US government hasn’t agreed to try to bring Mr. Abrego Garcia back.
Update: On April 10, the US Supreme Court ruled that Mr. Trump’s government must work to bring Mr. Abrego Garcia back from El Salvador.