U.S. Plans to Deport Salvadoran Man to Uganda After Rejecting Plea Deal

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 30-year-old Salvadoran national, faces deportation to Uganda after U.S. immigration authorities rejected his refusal to accept a plea deal. His case has drawn national attention for its unusual circumstances and legal disputes.

Garcia was deported to El Salvador in March 2025, despite a 2019 immigration judge’s order blocking his removal due to credible threats from gang violence in his home country. He later returned to the United States in June 2025 following a legal challenge led by his wife.

After his return, Garcia was arrested in Tennessee on human smuggling charges linked to a 2022 traffic stop. He has pleaded not guilty, claiming the charges are linked to his earlier legal victory against deportation. His attorneys have moved to dismiss the case, describing the prosecution as retaliatory.

In August 2025, prosecutors offered Garcia a plea deal that would have led to his deportation to Costa Rica. He declined, maintaining that such an agreement would be unjust. Following this refusal, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) informed his legal team of its plan to deport him to Uganda, a country that recently agreed to accept certain U.S. deportees. Garcia has no ties to Uganda and his lawyers argue that such a move would amount to punishment.

Garcia currently lives in Maryland with his American wife and their children. He fled El Salvador at age 16 to escape gang violence and has lived in the United States under federal supervision for years. His attorneys emphasize that deportation to Uganda would conflict with legal protections, noting that a federal court requires ICE to provide 72 hours’ notice before any removal. This period is meant to allow for legal review and safeguard his rights.

The case has raised concerns among legal experts and advocacy groups about the fairness and transparency of U.S. immigration enforcement. Observers say the outcome could influence how future deportation cases are handled, particularly when individuals have family and community ties in the country.

As deadlines approach, Garcia’s legal team continues to fight the deportation order, working to block his removal and highlight the broader implications for U.S. immigration policy.