El Salvador’s President Refuses to Deport Wrongfully Deported Man
Nayib Bukele, the President of El Salvador, has declared that he will not return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was wrongfully deported from the United States. He likened the potential move to "smuggling a terrorist" back into the U.S., according to a report from Reuters.
During a meeting at the White House with President Donald Trump, Bukele contended that he does not have the authority to send Abrego Garcia back, despite a Supreme Court order in the U.S. requiring American officials to facilitate his return.
"The question is absurd. How could I possibly smuggle a terrorist back into the United States?" Bukele stated, reflecting the accusation from Trump’s administration that Abrego Garcia has links to the MS-13 gang — a claim vigorously denied by his attorneys. Recent court decisions have found no credible evidence to support this accusation.
President Trump has expressed support for Bukele’s firm stance on immigration, committing to deport as many undocumented immigrants as possible back to El Salvador. He praised Bukele’s strategy of mass detaining suspected gang members, including Abrego Garcia, who now finds himself in El Salvador’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center. This facility has faced allegations of human rights violations and the detention of innocent individuals without proper legal procedures.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the court order only requires U.S. cooperation if El Salvador agrees to the repatriation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also emphasized that foreign policy decisions are the prerogative of the president, not the courts.
Even with a lower court’s ruling and the Supreme Court’s refusal to put a hold on it, the U.S. government insists it is not obligated to ensure Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador. Previously, Abrego Garcia had a U.S. work permit and had been granted protection against deportation by an immigration judge due to concerns about gang violence.
Demonstrators, including Abrego Garcia’s wife, who is a U.S. citizen, protested outside the White House, calling on Trump to heed the court’s order. "President Trump, bring Kilmar home now!" one protester shouted.
Meanwhile, Bukele downplayed critiques of his government’s mass incarceration practices, telling Trump, "They say we’ve imprisoned thousands—I say we’ve liberated millions." Trump, praising Bukele’s measures, responded enthusiastically, "Can I borrow that phrase?"
