Kilmar Ábrego García Claims Torture Following Deportation to El Salvador Prison

In newly filed court documents, Kilmar Ábrego García, a Maryland resident, reveals disturbing claims of torture and mistreatment during his time in an El Salvador prison after being wrongfully deported.

Kilmar Ábrego García, a 29-year-old man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, recently alleged he faced "severe beatings" and "torture" while incarcerated in one of the country's most infamous prisons, known as CECOT. After his return to the U.S. in June to confront human trafficking charges, new court documents unveiled by his legal team detail the horrific treatment he experienced upon arrival. His lawyers assert the Trump administration incorrectly branded him as a member of the notorious MS-13 gang, a claim that has been flatly denied by both García and his family.

Upon his arrival at CECOT, García and approximately 20 other deported inmates were subjected to violent assaults by prison guards, resulting in visible injuries by the end of the day. The conditions of the prison were reportedly dire; the men were crammed into windowless cells with metal bunks devoid of mattresses, and constant bright lights permeated the facility at all hours. Allegedly, inmates were forced into grueling positions, kneeling for hours without relief while enduring physical punishments from guards if they showed signs of exhaustion.

In one terrifying incident, guards purportedly threatened García with confinement in a cell with gang members who would inflict severe harm upon him. Documented accounts indicate that the extreme stress and lack of proper nutrition led him to lose around 30 pounds (14 kg) within just two weeks of his detention.

Despite the abuses reported, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has publicly stated that his country's prisons are devoid of violence or dangerous conditions, previously expressing his backing for the Trump administration's rigorous deportation policies.

In response to García’s legal challenges, the Trump administration is seeking to dismiss the lawsuit initiated by García's wife, arguing that circumstances changed following his return to the U.S. This lawsuit comes after an immigration judge had previously granted him protection from deportation in 2019, a measure made amid concerns for his safety given the gang threats in El Salvador.

After his deportation in March 2025, the White House eventually facilitated García's return following significant legal pressure, albeit after a period of unnecessary detention in CECOT. Attorney General Pam Bondi remarked that García's return epitomizes “what American justice looks like,” while his legal team continues to contend that the human trafficking charges against him are unfounded, labeling them as "preposterous."

Despite a recent ruling that recognizes him as eligible for release in Tennessee, García remains incarcerated, with his legal representatives fearing that any release could pave the way for another deportation attempt. As the case unfolds, the human rights implications and the treatment of deportees are likely to remain under scrutiny.