US Government Considers Deportation of Kilmar Ábrego García to Uganda Amid Legal Controversies

Kilmar Ábrego García, released from US custody, may face deportation to Uganda due to his refusal of a plea deal regarding human smuggling charges. His legal team alleges coercion by US authorities, while immigration practices draw scrutiny amid the ongoing debates on international deportation agreements.

US authorities have informed Kilmar Ábrego García, an El Salvadoran national, of their intent to deport him to Uganda. This announcement came less than 24 hours after his release from custody, following a decision not to accept a plea deal in a pending criminal case. García's attorneys assert that the US government is attempting to "coerce" him into a guilty plea for human smuggling charges by underlining the severe consequences of deportation "halfway across the world" to Uganda, a nation with which he has no known connections.

He was offered a deal to plead guilty and subsequently be deported to Costa Rica, a proposal that emerged after it was confirmed he would be released from a Tennessee jail. The Costa Rican government had shown willingness to accept García as a refugee and grant him legal status within their borders, a letter from a Costa Rican official confirms. However, according to his lawyers, García must consider the plea arrangement by Monday morning, signifying that the offer is time-sensitive and will disappear thereafter.

Currently, García is with his family in Maryland as he prepares for a Baltimore immigration court appearance scheduled for Monday. If the court approves the government's initiative, he may face deportation in the following days. Reports indicate that the US has established bilateral deportation agreements with countries such as Honduras and Uganda to reinforce its immigration enforcement measures. Uganda’s foreign ministry clarified that its agreement with the US is contingent upon certain conditions, particularly regarding individuals with criminal records.

García’s case has emerged as a focal point in the Trump administration's strict immigration policies. He previously endured a wrongful deportation to El Salvador in March, a situation labeled an "administrative error" by US officials that subsequently led to a federal judge ordering his return to the United States. Having been charged in a human smuggling operation, García has pleaded not guilty. Following court rulings that favored his release, uncertainties arose concerning the potential rapid deportation back to El Salvador, illustrating the complexities and controversies associated with US immigration enforcement practices.