White House Refuses to Repatriate Wrongly Deported Man, Amid Controversy

The Biden administration has confirmed that Kilmar Ábrego García, a Salvadoran national mistakenly deported from the U.S., will not be allowed to return. The White House maintains allegations of gang affiliation and domestic violence against him, despite denials from his legal team. Recently, a Maryland judge ruled that his removal violated legal protections, but the U.S. government insists he would be immediately deported again if he entered the country.

The White House has reaffirmed its stance against repatriating a man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador last month. Kilmar Ábrego García, a Salvadoran national, was brought to a mega-prison following his deportation from Maryland, which US officials have since recognized as an error. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized in a press briefing that he would "never live in the United States of America" again.

The controversy surrounding Mr. Ábrego García's deportation is compounded by allegations of him being affiliated with the MS-13 gang, claims that are firmly rejected by his legal representation. Leavitt also highlighted past allegations of domestic violence brought against him by a U.S. citizen spouse, citing historical protective orders without acknowledging the couple's reconciliation through counseling.

A Maryland judge had ruled that Mr. Ábrego García's deportation violated existing protections put in place by a 2019 court decision. This ruling was partially upheld by the Supreme Court last week, and Mr. Ábrego García's legal counsel has pressed the government to comply with these judicial directives.

Despite the court’s decision, the White House maintains that there was no administrative error, accusing Mr. Ábrego García of being a "woman beater," while his lawyer questioned the legality of deporting someone without a criminal conviction. Details surrounding his deportation were also scrutinized, especially after it was revealed he was sent to a facility known for housing gang members in El Salvador.

Amidst escalating tensions, Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen embarked on a trip to El Salvador to seek Mr. Ábrego García, but he was denied access at the prison. Van Hollen described the deportation as illegal and called for García's release, while the White House responded critical of his focus and actions following the recent murder of a Maryland woman by an alleged undocumented immigrant.

The ongoing legal and political battle has led to further inquiries into the immigration policies under the current administration, with members of Congress seeking to understand the broader implications of such deportations.