History of Deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia in Timeline

Kilmar Armando Ábrego García, a Salvadoran man, was illegally deported from the US to El Salvador on March 15, 2025, due to what the Trump administration termed an "administrative error." Despite having no criminal charges or convictions, he was imprisoned without trial in El Salvador's CECOT, as part of an agreement where the US paid El Salvador to detain deportees. Abrego Garcia's case is the most prominent one amongst hundreds of migrants sent to be jailed at CECOT without trial. The US government justified the deportation by alleging Abrego Garcia's affiliation with MS-13, a claim he denies, based on a county police report referenced in a 2019 immigration court proceeding.

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Full Timeline Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

July 1995: Kilmar Abrego Garcia's birth

In July 1995, Kilmar Abrego Garcia was born in the Los Nogales neighborhood of San Salvador, El Salvador.

2011: Illegal immigration to the United States

Around 2011, at age 16, Abrego Garcia illegally immigrated to the United States to escape gang threats.

2012: Border crossing

Around 2012, Kilmar illegally crossed the Mexico–US border near McAllen, Texas.

2015: Hernandez-Reyes met Abrego Garcia

In 2015, Jose Ramon Hernandez-Reyes claimed he met Abrego Garcia and hired him periodically to transport illegal immigrants.

2016: Meeting and marriage to Jennifer Vasquez Sura

In 2016, Abrego Garcia met Jennifer Vasquez Sura, a US citizen, and they later married.

March 2019: Stop for loitering and gang affiliation suspicion

In March 2019, Abrego Garcia was stopped for loitering in Hyattsville, Maryland. Police suspected gang affiliation, but no charges were filed.

April 2019: Suspension of Detective Mendez

In April 2019, Detective Ivan Mendez, involved in the Abrego Garcia case, was suspended from the Prince George's County Police Department (PGPD) for misconduct unrelated to the incident.

June 2019: Marriage to Jennifer Vasquez Sura

In June 2019, while still detained, Abrego Garcia married Jennifer Vasquez Sura. The ceremony took place with the couple separated by glass, and a wedding ring was provided by an officer.

October 10, 2019: Withholding Decision

On October 10, 2019, a withholding decision was made that the government argued implied an order of removal, which Judge Xinis later disputed, stating it wasn't an order of removal.

November 2019: Alleged domestic abuse begins

In November 2019, allegations of domestic abuse from his wife, none of which resulted in charges being filed, started approximately a month after his release from ICE detention.

2019: Asylum Hearing

In 2019, Abrego Garcia had an asylum hearing where his application was rejected, but he was granted the ability to stay in the US and a protection order not to be deported specifically to El Salvador.

2019: Withholding of removal status granted

In 2019, an immigration judge granted Abrego Garcia withholding of removal status due to the danger he would face from gang violence if he returned to El Salvador, allowing him to live and work legally in the US.

2019: Documents and Press Releases from DHS

In 2019, documents and press releases from the DHS intended to show Abrego Garcia "as a [MS-13] gang member with a violent history". The DOJ also released two documents from 2019 that allegedly tied him to the MS-13 criminal gang, including a detective's summary of statements from a confidential informant.

2021: Civil Restraining Order Filed

In 2021, a civil restraining order was filed against Abrego Garcia by his wife.

December 1, 2022: Traffic stop in Tennessee

On either November 30 or December 1, 2022, Abrego Garcia was pulled over during a traffic stop in Tennessee for speeding and veering out of his lane. ICE declined to take him into custody.

2022: Traffic Stop in Tennessee

In 2022, Abrego Garcia was driving a car that was stopped in Tennessee. The car was owned by Jose Ramon Hernandez-Reyes.

2022: Information Related to 2022 Traffic Stop

In 2022, information related to a traffic stop was used to build a case against Abrego Garcia

September 2024: Sheet metal apprenticeship

In September 2024, Abrego Garcia became a sheet metal apprentice, working towards obtaining his journeyman's license.

2024: Donald Trump's campaign pledge

During his 2024 campaign for president of the United States, Donald Trump pledged to enact the largest mass deportation operation in US history.

January 2025: Trump administration designates gangs as terrorist organizations

In January 2025, the Trump administration designated the transnational gangs Tren de Aragua and MS-13 as foreign terrorist organizations.

March 12, 2025: Abrego Garcia Arrested by DHS

On March 12, 2025, Kilmar Abrego Garcia was arrested by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agent after picking up his son. The agent stated Abrego Garcia's immigration status had changed. After his wife arrived to care for their son, Abrego Garcia was detained and questioned about potential connections to MS-13, with references made to a family restaurant and a photo of him playing basketball.

March 15, 2025: Illegal deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia

On March 15, 2025, Kilmar Abrego Garcia was illegally deported to El Salvador by the US government under the Trump administration and was imprisoned without trial in the Salvadoran Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT).

March 24, 2025: Wife Sues United States

On March 24, 2025, Abrego Garcia's wife sued the United States, including herself, Abrego Garcia, and their son as plaintiffs. Their attorneys sought court intervention to compel the U.S. federal government to seek Abrego Garcia's return. The US government later admitted that Abrego Garcia was removed due to an administrative error.

April 10, 2025: Supreme Court orders to "facilitate" Abrego Garcia's return

On April 10, 2025, the Supreme Court unanimously stated that the government must "facilitate" Abrego Garcia's return to the US, but the administration interpreted this as not obligating them to seek his release.

April 11, 2025: Trump Comments on Abrego Garcia's Case

On April 11, 2025, President Trump stated that he would bring Abrego Garcia back if the Supreme Court ordered it, expressing respect for the Court's decision.

April 2025: Public Opinion Polls

In April 2025, a New York Times/Sienna College poll showed 52% of registered voters disapproved of Trump's handling of the case. A Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll showed 42% thought the government should bring Abrego Garcia back to the US.

April 2025: Federal Officers Question Hernandez-Reyes in Prison

In April 2025, federal officers questioned Jose Ramon Hernandez-Reyes, the owner of the vehicle involved in a 2022 traffic stop involving Abrego Garcia, while Hernandez-Reyes was serving a sentence in prison. They questioned him about the 2022 stop and were allegedly granted limited immunity. Hernandez-Reyes stated that he met Abrego Garcia in 2015 and hired him periodically to transport illegal immigrants.

April 28, 2025: Joseph Assigned to Abrego Garcia's Case

On April 28, 2025, Peter Joseph, a DHS special agent, was assigned to Abrego Garcia's case. The investigation involved information from confidential witnesses and license plate readers across several states.

June 6, 2025: Return to the US and indictment

On June 6, 2025, the federal government returned Abrego Garcia to the US, where the Department of Justice announced his indictment in Tennessee for "unlawful transportation of illegal aliens for financial gain" and conspiracy.

2025: Deportation from the United States

In 2025, Abrego Garcia, living in Maryland with his family and complying with ICE check-ins, was deported from the United States.

February 17, 2026: Judge Rules Against Re-Detention

On February 17, 2026, Judge Xinis ruled that ICE could not re-detain Abrego Garcia because there was no 'good reason to believe' removal was likely in the foreseeable future, and DHS hadn't shown his detention was consistent with due process.

March 20, 2026: Government Argues Against Dissolving Injunction

On March 20, 2026, the government argued that not deporting Abrego Garcia to Liberia would undermine the United States' diplomatic reliability. They requested Judge Xinis to dissolve her injunction by April 17.