(Baltimore) A federal judge temporarily blocked the expulsion to Uganda of a Salvadoran which has become a symbol of the repressive migration policy of Donald Trump on Monday.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, wrongly expelled in March to Salvador and then brought back to the United States, was arrested by immigration police (ICE) on Monday, the Minister of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced on X, and placed in detention by the American authorities.
The ministry said that he would be sent to Uganda, an Eastern African country who announced last week that he had entered into an agreement with Washington to accommodate expelled migrants from the United States.
But his lawyer had declared that a complaint had been immediately filed to challenge his expulsion to Uganda.
Mr. Abrego Garcia, 30, was released last week from a prison in Tennessee (South), where he was prosecuted for aid to the illegal stay of migrants. He had been authorized to join his family in Maryland (east), awaiting his trial.
Photo Elizabeth Frantz, Reuters
Kilmar Abrego Garcia holds the hand of his wife Jennifer Vasquez Sura before entering the Office of the Immigration Police (ICE)
The Ministry of Homeland Security had, however, enjoined him to appear on Monday morning before the Baltimore immigration services, the major city of Maryland, informing his lawyers of his possible transfer to Uganda.
“Carrot and stick”
Mr. Abrego Garcia had previously rejected a plea-guilty agreement, providing for his care and expulsion to Costa Rica.
Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, one of Mr. Abrego Garcia’s lawyers, said in front of a crowd of support gathered in front of the ICE offices that his client had been placed in detention after going to this meeting.
“The fact that they use Costa Rica as a carrot and Uganda as a stick to try to force it to plead guilty of a crime is obvious proof that they use the immigration system as a weapon in a completely unconstitutional way,” denounced his lawyer.
“Shame, shame,” chanted the demonstrators, some of whom held signs with the inscription “Liberz Kilmar”.
Photo Stephanie Scarbrough, Associated Press
A gathering of support for Kilmar Abrego Garcia (in the center) took place in front of the Office of the Immigration Police (ICE).
“There was no reason to place it in detention,” said Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, adding that his client had already been submitted to electronic surveillance measures and under house arrest.
The government’s desire to expel Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda marks a new turning point in a case that has become emblematic of Donald Trump’s repressive policy in matters of immigration.
The American president erected the fight against illegal immigration in absolute priority, evoking an “invasion” of the United States by “criminals from abroad” and communicating abundantly on the expulsions of immigrants.
“Demand freedom”
Kilmar Abrego Garcia had been expelled to Salvador without any other form of trial in March with more than 250 men, most of belonging to a Venezuelan gang.
The Trump government then recognized an “administrative error” concerning this resident of Maryland married to an American.
Mr. Abrego Garcia does not have a legal immigration status on American soil, but an expulsion decree against him to Salvador had been definitively canceled in 2019.
He was finally brought back to the United States in June, but the Trump administration had immediately launched prosecution against him in Tennessee for aid to the illegal stay of migrants.
She also accuses him of being a member of the Salvadoral gang MS-13, classified “terrorist organization” by the Trump government, which the interested party defends himself.
Before entering the Ice offices in Baltimore, Kilmar Abrego Garcia briefly addressed to the crowd of his supports gathered in front of the building.
“Whatever happens today, (…) Promise me to continue to pray, to fight, to resist and to love, not only for me, but for everyone. Continue to demand freedom, ”he said.
