Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident, endured severe mistreatment during his detention in El Salvador’s infamous CECOT prison, according to a recent court filing by his attorneys.
Abrego was deported in March by the Trump administration due to what they described as an ‘administrative error’, despite being protected from deportation by a court order issued in 2019.
His case has ignited a national debate regarding the Trump administration’s harsh immigration policies and the controversial deportation practices that sometimes bypass due process.
Upon his deportation on March 15, Abrego was thrust into CECOT, widely criticized for its appalling conditions.
According to the amended complaint submitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Abrego faced brutal physical abuse, including beatings and psychological torture, during his time there.
Individuals organizing and processing prisoners at CECOT allegedly subjected him to violence immediately upon his arrival.
Abrego was said to have been forced to strip and change into prison clothes under duress, experiencing kicks to the legs and blows to the head as punishment for not complying quickly enough.
The complaint alleges that his head was shaved, and he was frog-marched to his cell while being struck with wooden batons.
The following day, Abrego exhibited visible bruises and swelling all over his body.
Confined in a cramped cell with 20 other inmates, he and his fellow prisoners were forced to kneel overnight from roughly 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Guards allegedly struck anyone who showed signs of exhaustion, while bathroom access was denied.
Abrego reportedly soiled himself as a direct consequence of this denial.
The inmates were housed in metal bunks with no mattresses, surrounded by overcrowded quarters devoid of windows and subjected to continuous bright lighting.
To exacerbate the situation, prison officials repeatedly threatened to transfer Abrego to cells occupied by gang members, assuring him of grave harm.
His attorneys emphasized that Abrego witnessed inmates violently attacking one another without any intervention from prison staff, with cries for help echoing through the facility.
During the initial two weeks of his detention, Abrego allegedly lost 31 pounds due to the lack of adequate nutrition and the harsh prison regime.
On April 9, the complaint notes that Abrego, along with four others, was transferred to a different section of CECOT.
However, the very next day, he was relocated alone to the Centro Industrial prison facility in Santa Ana, El Salvador.
Throughout his detention, his communication with family was severely restricted; he was denied contact with them or legal counsel until April 17, when Senator Chris Van Hollen visited him.
In April, the Supreme Court ruled that his deportation had been ‘illegal’ and confirmed a prior judicial order mandating his return to the U.S.
After a tumultuous back-and-forth between the courts and the Trump administration concerning his return, Abrego was ultimately brought back to the U.S. on June 6.
The government has accused the 29-year-old of having gang affiliations with the notorious MS-13, allegations his family and legal team have vehemently refuted.
Abrego, who fled El Salvador at around age 16 due to gang violence, entered the U.S. undocumented in 2011, settling in Maryland with his older brother, a U.S. citizen.
In the amended filing, Abrego’s attorneys are requesting that U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis rule in their favor, asserting that the government violated laws and his Fifth Amendment right to due process from the moment of his arrest to his eventual return.
Additionally, they are seeking for Abrego to be returned to Maryland and for a habeas corpus hearing to be conducted.
Upon his return, the Department of Justice announced that Abrego would face human smuggling charges in Tennessee.
These charges allege that Abrego had a nine-year involvement in transporting undocumented individuals within the U.S., including alleged MS-13 members.
However, his family maintains that Abrego has no criminal history and was merely employed in construction, sometimes driving groups to job sites.
His wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, asserted that it was plausible for her husband to be mistakenly identified as a smuggler when driving workers between sites.
No charges or citations were issued at the time of his initial detention.
Abrego’s attorney Chris Newman criticized the Trump administration, labeling their response as a ‘campaign of disinformation and defamation’ against Abrego and his family.
The presiding federal judge in Abrego’s criminal case has mandated compliance with local rules that prohibit out-of-court statements that might compromise his right to a fair trial.
Abrego’s legal team expressed concern that continuous public allegations could undermine Abrego’s right to an impartial jury, emphasizing the importance of a fair judicial process free from outside influences.
As this dramatic story continues to unfold, it sheds light on the contentious immigration policies and the human rights implications involved in deportation practices.
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