Trump administration gives major update on father who was accidentally deported to 'world's worst prison' due to 'error'

The Trump administration has provided information about a Maryland father who was wrongly sent to El Salvador's notorious mega prison. Trump's second presidency has seen numerous deportations as his team works to reduce illegal immigration into the United States. Currently, more than 250 alleged criminals have been sent to The Center for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT) in El Salvador, as Trump implements mass deportations using a World War II law now approved by the Supreme Court - a decision that made the president happy.

One individual, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, ended up at CECOT by mistake. Garcia, who had legal protection from deportation since 2019, was accidentally sent to El Salvador, with Trump officials admitting the deportation happened because of an "administrative error."

Abrego Garcia's lawyers stated he escaped gang violence from El Salvador over ten years ago, but a government mistake led to his ICE arrest in mid-March "due to his prominent role in MS-13," which his attorneys say is false. Though the Trump administration acknowledged this error, they appeared reluctant to help return the Salvadoran national to America.

On Thursday (April 10), the Supreme Court intervened, supporting a district court order requiring the administration to "facilitate and effectuate" Abrego Garcia's return to the US. The Court unanimously declined to block the lower court's directive, meaning Abrego Garcia must be released from El Salvador and have his case handled as if he "had not been improperly sent."

After this ruling, a Trump administration representative updated the public on Abrego Garcia's situation. State Department official Michael Kozakv told a judge: "It is my understanding, based on official reporting from our Embassy in San Salvador, that Abrego Garcia is being held in the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador."

"He is alive and secure in that facility," the official added.

BBC News reports that President Trump will meet with El Salvador's president on Monday (April 14) to discuss the situation. Trump told reporters he "respects the Supreme Court," adding that if they asked him to "bring someone back, I would do that."

Following the Supreme Court decision, the case will now move to the trial court, as the justices did not establish a specific timeframe for Abrego Garcia's release.

The highest court made no mention of a deadline for when the administration must free Abrego Garcia from custody. Instead, the matter will proceed to the lower court for further proceedings and implementation of the return order.

Legal experts note this approach allows the trial court to manage the practical aspects of facilitating Abrego Garcia's return to the United States while monitoring compliance with its original directive. The absence of a Supreme Court-imposed timeline gives some flexibility to the process while still maintaining the requirement that the administration must act to correct the deportation error.

The trial court will now oversee the next steps in this case, determining how quickly Abrego Garcia should be released from El Salvador's detention facility and returned to American soil where his case can be properly handled according to existing legal protections.

Both Abrego Garcia's legal team and government officials will present their positions to the trial court regarding implementation details and reasonable timeframes for completing his return from CECOT to the United States.