Trending Now - Trump Administration Seeks to Proceed With Abrego Garcia's Deportation
WHO:
President Trump, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons, Department of Justice (DOJ)
WHAT:
The Trump administration has requested a federal judge to dissolve an injunction preventing ICE from deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia.
The DOJ stated in a court filing that the court's prior injunction is the sole impediment to Garcia's prompt removal.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador a year ago but returned to the U.S. in June 2025 to face human smuggling charges.
Garcia has pleaded not guilty to the human smuggling charges and is seeking dismissal on grounds of vindictive and selective prosecution.
The Trump administration deported Garcia to El Salvador in violation of a 2019 court order.
WHERE:
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Tennessee, Liberia, El Salvador, Costa Rica
WHEN:
The DOJ filed the request on Friday, March 20th, 2026.
Garcia was released from detention in December 2025.
The administration requested the judge to rule on the dissolution of the injunction by April 17th, 2026.
Garcia was deported to El Salvador in March 2025.
WHY:
The Trump administration claims Garcia is a member of MS-13 and seeks to remove him from the U.S. due to this association.
The 2019 court order prevents Garcia's deportation to El Salvador due to threats from a gang against his family.
HOW:
The DOJ's court filing argues that the court's injunction is delaying Garcia's removal and prolonging his detention.
The Trump administration has indicated plans to deport Garcia to Liberia, despite his willingness to go to Costa Rica, which has granted him asylum status.
(UPDATED March 22, 2026 17:20 UTC)
Today, the Trump administration has requested a federal judge to lift an injunction that currently prevents ICE from deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia. The Department of Justice argues that this injunction is the only barrier to Garcia's removal, who was previously deported to El Salvador last March but returned to the U.S. in June 2025 to face human smuggling charges, which he has pleaded not guilty to. The administration claims Garcia is affiliated with MS-13 and is seeking to expedite his deportation, despite his offer to go to Costa Rica, where he has been granted asylum.