State Department officials said Kilmer Abrego Garcia was “detained in accordance with the sovereignty of the national authorities of El Salvador.”
The US government admits that he was mistakenly deported, Kilmer Abrego Garcia lives in the El Salvador prison, a US State Department official said in a new court filing.
Abrego Garcia, originally from El Salvador, was an illegal residency in the United States. The US government arrested him in El Salvador and deported him in March after authorities described him as his “notable role” in the MS-13 gang.
The immigration judge had previously determined that there was strong evidence that the man was a member of MS-13, but another judge issued withholding for removal, preventing Abrego Garcia from deportation to his home country over concerns that he was not safe there.
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In Kozak’s two-page declaration, senior State Department officials did not provide any additional information about Garcia beyond his location, his life, and his location where he is detained in accordance with the authority of the Salvadoran government.
Kozak said he obtained information about Abrego Garcia “from other State Department employees.”
The US government did not file any additional documents with the court.
“If the Supreme Court said that he would bring someone back, I would do that,” President Donald Trump told Air Force 1 reporters on Friday.
He added: “These wild bars are now under the sole custody of El Salvador, a proud sovereign nation, and their future will be up to President B and his government.
El Salvador President Naive Bukere landed in the United States on Saturday and is scheduled to meet with Trump on Monday.
