El Salvador Refuses to Repatriate Wrongly Deported American Resident

In a controversial meeting with Donald Trump, El Salvador's leader defended the nation's decision not to return a man mistakenly deported from the US.

El Salvador will not repatriate Kilmar Ábrego García, a Salvadoran man erroneously deported from the United States, as President Nayib Bukele emphasized the country's stance during a recent meeting with Donald Trump. Bukele's comments come after a US Supreme Court ruling requiring the Trump administration to "facilitate" García's return to the US, where he has family and received court protection from deportation in 2019.

The Trump administration contests that returning García is not within its authority, with Attorney General Pam Bondi stating the decision lies with El Salvador. In the same meeting, Trump praised Bukele for a partnership allowing the US to send alleged gang members back to El Salvador, despite claims that García is not affiliated with gangs.

García was among a larger group of individuals deported by the Trump administration, which allegedly designated them as members of notorious gangs such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. Critics argue that many deported have been wrongfully categorized as gang members, and there are ongoing legal challenges regarding their repatriation.

In acknowledgement of this administrative error, US officials are now tasked with providing daily updates on the matter. Meanwhile, Trump's relationship with Bukele, which has strengthened since Trump's return to office, has led to a significant escalation in deportations aimed at eliminating gang-related crime.

As the US continues its deportation efforts, officials recently announced the deportation of ten additional individuals, although specifics regarding their ties to the Cecot prison remain unclear. Amid this backdrop, human rights concerns have surfaced regarding the treatment of those in El Salvador's maximum-security facilities, a topic Trump seemed unfazed by in recent statements.