Kilmar Abrego Garcia Faces Deportation to Uganda After ICE Arrest

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the immigrant deported to El Salvador who became a political flashpoint for the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, was detained again on Monday and now faces deportation to Uganda.

Abrego Garcia, who spent 160 days separated from his wife and children before being paroled from federal custody last week, was taken into custody during a scheduled immigration check-in in Baltimore. His lawyers say they anticipated the move after the Trump administration declared over the weekend he may be deported to Uganda.

Last week it emerged that Uganda had become the latest nation to strike a deal with the Trump administration to accept deportees, joining South Sudan, Kosovo, Rwanda, Costa Rica and others. But Ugandan officials signalled the arrangement could apply only to migrants from African countries and exclude anyone alleged to have ties to violent gangs.

“There was no need to take him into ICE detention … the only reason they took him into detention was to punish him,” Abrego Garcia’s attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg told reporters after his detention. He added that ICE officers refused to disclose why Abrego Garcia was arrested or where he will be held.

Abrego Garcia, who fled El Salvador as a teenager and lived in Maryland, addressed supporters before entering his appointment.

“My name is Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and I want you to remember this, remember that I am free and I was able to be reunited with my family,” he said. “This was a miracle. Thank you to God and thank you to the community. I want to thank each and every one of you who marched, lift your voices, never stop praying, and continue to fight in my name.”

The administration has repeatedly accused Abrego Garcia of gang ties to MS-13, a charge his lawyers dismiss as unfounded.

Last week, prosecutors reportedly offered him a plea deal in Tennessee that could allow him to serve time and then resettle in Costa Rica. He rejected that plea deal.

Watch above via CNN.