Kilmar Abrego Garcia Garcia, 30, is a Salvadoran national who entered the US illegally as a young man after escaping gang threats in his home country. An immigration judge in 2019 prevented him from being de
ported to El Salvador. However, in March 2025, the Trump administration inadvertently deported the sheet metal worker and union member to El Salvador.
He was sent to the United States in June after a court order, where he was accused of smuggling human people, a claim he denies.
Citing countries including Ghana, Uganda, and Eswatini, the government is still attempting to deport him, which his lawyers say is retaliatory.
Meet Armand Abrego and Cecilia Garcia de Abrego
Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s parents lived in San Salvador, El Salvador.
His mother ran a pupusa business, which the Barrio 18 gang extorted, threatening his older brother, Cesar, and later Kilmar, who was around 12.
His family sent him to the US at age 16 due to ongoing death threats.
