Trump Administration Moves to Deport Maryland Man to Eswatini Amid Legal Battle
The Trump administration has informed Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident, that it now intends to deport him to the small African nation of Eswatini, escalating an already contentious immigration case.
According to an email obtained by CNN, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told Abrego Garcia on Friday that Eswatini had been selected as his new removal destination. The decision comes after he objected to earlier plans to deport him to Uganda, citing fears of persecution and torture.
ICE Challenges His Objections
The email, sent by an ICE official, cast doubt on Abrego Garcia’s claims, pointing out that he and his attorneys have raised similar fears about more than 20 countries, including his native El Salvador. Earlier this year, he was mistakenly deported there and held for weeks in one of the country’s notorious mega prisons.
“Your claim of fear is difficult to take seriously, given that you’ve alleged possible persecution in at least 22 countries,” the email stated.
An ICE spokesperson later confirmed that the agency will comply with a judge’s removal order and deport Abrego Garcia to Eswatini.
Legal Fight Against Re-Deportation
Abrego Garcia is currently in ICE custody after being returned to the U.S. to face human smuggling charges. Despite his ongoing trial, the Trump administration has been pushing to deport him before proceedings conclude.
Last week, however, the federal judge overseeing the case blocked his deportation until at least early October, when administration officials are expected to testify about their efforts to remove him.
Costa Rica as an Alternative
Abrego Garcia has expressed a preference to be deported to Costa Rica, a country that has signaled a willingness to grant him some form of legal status. His lawyers told the court that the administration previously floated a deal: Costa Rica would eventually receive him if he agreed to a guilty plea in his trafficking case. Abrego Garcia declined the offer.
Why Eswatini?
Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is a small, landlocked country in Southeast Africa, roughly the size of New Jersey. It is ruled by a monarch with absolute authority. The nation is one of four African countries — along with Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda — that have agreements with the Trump administration to accept foreign deportees.
Asylum Bid Still Pending
Alongside the deportation fight, Abrego Garcia is pursuing a renewed bid for asylum in the U.S., a process that will be decided by an immigration judge within the Department of Justice.