Imagine living in the United States with legal protection, working hard to support your family, and following the law—only to be suddenly detained and deported to a country where your life is in danger. That's exactly what happened to Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 25-year-old sheet metal worker, husband, and father of three, including a special-needs child. Despite holding a legal status that explicitly prevented his deportation to El Salvador, Kilmar was wrongfully removed from the U.S. due to an “administrative error.” Now, he's trapped in one of Latin America's most notorious prisons, and the U.S. government refuses to bring him home.

Kilmar's Story: From Fear to Safety in the U.S.

Kilmar grew up in Los Nogales, a neighborhood in San Salvador, El Salvador. His father, a retired police officer, and his mother, Cecilia, ran a small pupusa business called "Pupuseria Cecilia.” Kilmar and his siblings all helped with the business, but their success attracted the attention of Barrio 18, a powerful local gang.

When the family refused to hand over their eldest son to the gang, threats escalated. Kilmar's brother was sent to the U.S. for safety, but when Kilmar was 12, the gang came for him next. His father paid them off temporarily, but they kept coming back. Fearing for their children's lives, Kilmar's parents sent him to the U.S. when he was 16 to reunite with his brother.

A Hardworking Life in the U.S.

Kilmar built a life in the U.S. He worked, paid taxes, and eventually married a U.S. citizen. He and his wife have a five-year-old son with autism and two stepchildren. He was training to become a licensed journeyman in sheet metal work, aiming for a better future for his family.

Years earlier, after an encounter with law enforcement, Kilmar had been granted “withholding of removal,” a legal status that protected him from deportation to El Salvador due to the dangers he faced there. Though he wasn't eligible for citizenship through this status, it allowed him to remain safely in the U.S.

Wrongful Detention and Deportation

On March 12, Kilmar was pulled over in what seemed like a routine traffic stop. Instead, ICE officers detained him, handcuffed him in front of his crying child, and falsely told his wife that his immigration status had changed. In detention, he was repeatedly questioned about gang affiliations—despite having no criminal history in either the U.S. or El Salvador.

Then, without seeing a judge, without a formal removal order, and in direct violation of U.S. law, Kilmar was placed on a plane to El Salvador. His wife later discovered pictures of him inside a notorious prison where inmates are subjected to extreme human rights violations.

U.S. Government Admits Its Mistake—But Won't Fix It

In court, the U.S. government admitted that Kilmar's deportation was an “administrative error.” ICE knew about his protected status. He wasn't even supposed to be on the plane—his name had been added as an “alternate,” and through a series of mistakes, he was removed anyway.

But instead of correcting the error, the government argued that they couldn't do anything about it. Kilmar is now in the custody of the Salvadoran government, and officials claim that bringing him back would require disrupting diplomatic relations. Worse, they continue to cast doubt on Kilmar's innocence, despite having no evidence that he has ever been involved in gang activity.

What Can Be Done?

This is not just Kilmar's fight—it's a fight for justice, due process, and basic human rights. Kilmar's case shows how easily the system can fail, even when legal protections are in place.

Here's how you can help:

• Call your representatives. Demand that they take action to correct this injustice.
  
  

• Raise awareness. Share Kilmar's story so that wrongful deportations like this don't go unnoticed.
  
  

• Support legal advocacy. Organizations fighting for immigrant rights need public support to hold the government accountable.
  
  

At World One Law Group, we stand against unlawful deportations and fight to protect immigrant rights. If you or someone you know needs legal help, contact us today.

✅ Need help with your immigration case? 📞 Call: 425-250-8110
📧 Email: [email protected]
Justice must not be optional. Let's demand accountability and bring Kilmar home.