Tue Apr 15 00:06:00 UTC 2025: ## US and El Salvador Clash Over Deportation of Wrongly Deported Maryland Man

**Washington, D.C. – April 15, 2025** – The Trump administration and El Salvador are locked in a bitter dispute over the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man wrongly deported to El Salvador last month and imprisoned in a notorious gang prison. Despite a Supreme Court order urging the U.S. to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return, both governments refuse to cooperate.

President Trump and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele jointly dismissed the idea of repatriation as “preposterous” during a White House meeting on Monday. U.S. officials claim Abrego Garcia is a Salvadoran citizen, absolving the U.S. of responsibility. Bukele echoed this sentiment, stating he lacks the authority to return Abrego Garcia. While Attorney General Pam Bondi indicated the U.S. would provide transportation if El Salvador initiated the return, she emphasized that it was El Salvador’s responsibility.

The Department of Homeland Security’s acting general counsel further solidified the U.S. stance, arguing it lacks the authority to forcibly retrieve Abrego Garcia from El Salvadoran custody. They also cited the designation of MS-13 as a foreign terrorist organization, claiming it negates Abrego Garcia’s eligibility for protection against deportation. However, Abrego Garcia’s lawyers deny any gang affiliation.

This refusal intensifies the legal battle, with a judge now considering whether to hold the U.S. government in contempt for its lack of cooperation. The case highlights the complex relationship between the U.S. and El Salvador, particularly concerning mass deportations.

El Salvador has recently accepted over 200 Venezuelan immigrants from the U.S., housed in the same maximum-security prison where Abrego Garcia is held. This arrangement, costing the U.S. approximately $6 million annually, is a source of contention for Democrats who express concern over the human rights implications of such deportations. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeanne Shaheen have voiced strong criticism of the administration’s actions.

Adding fuel to the fire, President Trump has openly expressed a desire to deport American citizens convicted of violent crimes to El Salvador, a statement raising significant legal questions. This stance, along with the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to justify deportations, further underscores the contentious nature of the ongoing dispute. The Supreme Court, while allowing the use of the Act, insisted on court hearings for all deportees. The situation remains highly volatile and raises serious questions about human rights and international cooperation.

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