The Trump administration admitted an administrative mistake that wrongly deported a father to one of the world’s most dangerous prisons.
The Trump administration has acknowledged a serious error involving the deportation of a Maryland father to El Salvador.
This father, who had legal protections, was sent to one of the most dangerous prisons in the world due to what officials are calling an “administrative error.”
A father deported to ‘the world’s worst prison’ by Trump administration
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national living in Maryland, in mid-March.
An immigration judge granted him protected status in 2019, which should have prevented his deportation.
This status was intended to protect him from being sent back to the country he fled due to gang violence.
Despite this, the Trump administration mistakenly deported him to El Salvador’s Center for Terrorism Confinement, known as CECOT.
This prison is notorious for housing dangerous criminals, including members of gangs and mass murderers.
It can hold up to 40,000 inmates, making it one of the largest prisons in the Americas.
Trump administration admits deportation error that sent Maryland father to ‘world’s worst prison’
The administration has finally admitted making a mistake. They stated that ICE knew about Abrego Garcia’s protected status but still deported him.
According to a court filing, they sent him to El Salvador on March 15 despite this knowledge.
The filing emphasized that this mistake was due to an oversight in the administrative process.
Robert Cerna, an acting ICE field office director, explained that Abrego Garcia was not initially on the deportation list.
However, as officials removed other detainees from the flight, they moved him up the list and mistakenly included him.
Cerna emphasized that they made an honest mistake and carried out the deportation in good faith.
He said: “Abrego-Garcia was not on the initial manifest of the Title 8 flight to be removed to El Salvador. Rather, he was an alternate.
As officials removed others from the flight for various reasons, they moved him up the list and assigned him to the flight.
“The manifest did not indicate that Abrego-Garcia should not be removed. Through administrative error, Abrego-Garcia was removed from the United States to El Salvador.
“This was an oversight, and the removal was carried out in good faith based on the existence of a final order of removal and Abrego-Garcia’s purported membership in MS-13.”
The prison conditions at CECOT raise serious concerns.
The CECOT has a reputation for being extremely dangerous. Reports indicate that the prison houses many individuals involved in violent crimes.
Abrego Garcia’s attorneys worry about his safety in such an environment. They argue that he is not a gang member and should not be in such a facility.
His legal team has stated that he fled El Salvador over a decade ago to escape the violence and threats posed by gangs.
They have expressed concerns about his welfare and the conditions he may face in prison.
Returning to the U.S. is currently very difficult.
Even after acknowledging the error, the Trump administration has not provided a clear answer on how or when Abrego Garcia can return to the United States.
Officials have stated that he is currently in Salvadoran custody, which complicates efforts to bring him back.
This situation leaves his family and supporters anxious about his future.
The case has sparked discussions about the treatment of immigrants and the efficiency of the deportation process.
Many are questioning how such a critical error could occur and what measures are in place to prevent similar mistakes in the future.
Social media reactions
One user said: Will someone please send Trump and Elon to El Salvador.
The second user wrote: He embodies ‘administrative error’.
The third user said: Amateur hour in the White House contiues. What a bunch of stooges.
The fourth user commented: So send the woman in charge back down there and bring him back.
Another user added: Another one of those SNAP decisions
Someone said: Get on your plane and go get him! You are paying El Salvador to house them for the next year.