Trump Administration Eyes Deportation of Abrego Garcia Amid Human Smuggling Case

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The Trump administration is moving to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national facing federal human smuggling charges in Tennessee. Federal officials argue that Abrego Garcia poses a threat to public safety, though his attorneys maintain he has not been convicted of any crime.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Friday that the administration is determined to see Abrego Garcia removed from the United States. He was released from criminal custody in Tennessee but remains under federal jurisdiction while awaiting trial scheduled for January 27, 2027.

Court filings show that if he is transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody in Maryland, he must be allowed access to his attorneys both in person and by telephone to prepare his defense. DHS confirmed that he has been ordered to report to ICE offices in Baltimore on Monday.

Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador in March but later returned to the United States in June. Federal prosecutors allege links to the MS-13 gang, one of the most violent transnational criminal groups operating in the U.S. and Central America. His attorneys dispute those allegations.

Meanwhile, the government of Costa Rica has formally expressed willingness to accept Abrego Garcia once any U.S. criminal sentence is completed. In a letter obtained by ABC News, Costa Rican Minister of Governance Mario Zamora Cordero confirmed the country’s readiness to provide him with residency or refugee status. Costa Rica also pledged not to deport him to a third country, including El Salvador, and said he would be protected against persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group membership.

Abrego Garcia has not been convicted of any charges at this stage. The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica did not comment on the matter.

The case highlights the Trump administration’s continued focus on strict immigration enforcement while raising questions about how U.S. obligations under international agreements are balanced against domestic security concerns.