Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national, has become a central figure in the immigration debate following his wrongful deportation to El Salvador in March 2025, despite legal protections against removal.
After being returned to the U.S., he faced renewed detention by ICE amid serious allegations of human smuggling and gang affiliations, which he vehemently denies.
The Trump administration is now seeking to deport him to Uganda, a country with which he has no ties, raising concerns about the potential risks he may face there.
Garcia's attorneys are fighting for his asylum claim, arguing that he would encounter persecution and torture if forced back to Uganda, while also asserting that deportation efforts are retaliatory for his legal challenges.
In a controversial plea deal, he was offered deportation to Costa Rica in exchange for a guilty plea on smuggling charges, a proposal he boldly rejected.
His ongoing struggle highlights broader issues within the U.S. immigration system, reflecting the harsh realities faced by individuals entangled in the complexities of deportation and asylum rights.