The Trump administration has notified Kilmar Abrego Garcia of its intention to deport him to Eswatini, a landlocked kingdom in Southern Africa, amidst ongoing legal challenges and previous deportation attempts. The notification, delivered via email on Friday, comes as Abrego Garcia contests efforts to remove him from the United States. The Department of Homeland Security had initially planned to deport him to Uganda, but Abrego Garcia objected, citing fears of persecution and torture.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official confirmed the planned deportation to Eswatini, stating that an immigration judge had ordered his removal and ICE would comply with the order. Abrego Garcia is currently in ICE custody, facing human smuggling charges after being brought back to the U.S. The administration’s effort to deport him before the conclusion of his trial has drawn scrutiny.
The email sent to Abrego Garcia by ICE officials expressed skepticism regarding his claims of fearing persecution in multiple countries. The email highlighted that Abrego Garcia, through his attorneys, had claimed fear of persecution or torture in at least 22 different countries, including his native El Salvador, where he was previously detained in a mega-prison following a mistaken deportation earlier this year.
A federal judge overseeing Abrego Garcia’s case ruled last week that he cannot be deported until at least early October, pending testimony from Trump administration officials regarding the government’s deportation efforts. Abrego Garcia has expressed a preference to be deported to Costa Rica, which has indicated a willingness to grant him legal status.
The administration had previously offered to deport Abrego Garcia to Costa Rica in exchange for a guilty plea in his human trafficking case, according to his lawyers. However, Abrego Garcia reportedly declined the offer. Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is one of four African nations that have agreements with the Trump administration to accept deportees, along with Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda.
Abrego Garcia is also pursuing a separate asylum claim, which will be adjudicated by an immigration judge within the Department of Justice. The legal proceedings surrounding Abrego Garcia’s case continue to unfold, raising questions about the fairness and legality of the deportation efforts.
