1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

The deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a maximum security prison in El Salvador despite a legal order prohibiting his removal there is deeply concerning. It appears to have been an egregious administrative error that has put an individual's life at risk. While the administration alleges Abrego Garcia has gang ties, this claim seems thinly substantiated based on the details provided. He was granted withholding of removal by an immigration judge in 2019 after determining he could face persecution by gangs if sent back to El Salvador. As a Maryland resident with a U.S. citizen wife and disabled child, forcibly removing him not only violates a court order but tears apart a family. The U.S. government must take all available diplomatic steps to secure Abrego Garcia's prompt return from El Salvador. Deporting individuals to potential harm against the rulings of our own immigration courts undermines the integrity of our legal system. While the circumstances around Abrego Garcia's alleged gang ties remain unclear, that ambiguity should have precluded such a reckless deportation, especially given the gravity of sending him to a notorious Salvadoran prison. The administration must rectify this injustice and ensure no further violations of immigration court orders occur through strengthened oversight and accountability measures. Abrego Garcia's safe return is imperative to uphold respect for human rights and the rule of law.