DOJ Says It Is Ready to Deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia if Judge Lifts Injunction
The Justice Department, joined by the Trump administration, asked Judge Paula Xinis to dissolve an injunction blocking Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation, saying Liberia is willing to accept him and ICE could arrange a charter and remove him in roughly five days once the order is lifted. DOJ/DHS filings say ICE is “confident” removal would be imminent and asked for a ruling by April 17, noting Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March 2025 in violation of a 2019 order and was returned to the U.S. to face human‑smuggling charges he denies.
📌 Key Facts
- DOJ and DHS filings state that Liberia’s government remains willing to accept Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
- A court injunction by Judge Paula Xinis is currently blocking Abrego Garcia’s removal; DOJ/DHS have asked the judge to lift that order.
- An ICE official’s declaration says ICE could arrange a charter plane and remove Abrego Garcia to Liberia in roughly five days once Judge Xinis lifts the injunction.
- The filing quotes ICE as being “confident that Mr. Abrego Garcia’s removal would be imminent” and asks Judge Xinis to rule on the motion by April 17.
- Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March 2025 in violation of a 2019 order; he was then slated for the CECOT mega‑prison before being returned to the U.S.
- He faces human‑smuggling charges that he denies and has characterized as vindictive.
📊 Relevant Data
The Trump administration spent at least $40 million to deport roughly 300 migrants to countries other than their own between 2025 and 2026.
US spent $40M on roughly 300 deportations to third nations, report finds — AP News
More than 80% of migrants sent to third countries by the US have already returned to their home nations or are in the process of doing so.
US paid $32m to five countries to accept about 300 deportees, report shows — The Guardian
In 2025, the most common nationalities deported by ICE were Mexican, followed by Guatemalan and Honduran, with over 100,000 deportations to Mexico alone.
Approximately 2.1 million Salvadoran immigrants and their children live in the United States, making El Salvador the largest source of Central American immigrants.
The Salvadoran Diaspora in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
Political and economic instability, widespread violence, and environmental disasters in Central America, including El Salvador, have driven migration to the United States for over 40 years.
Central American Immigrants in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- DOJ/DHS filings state that Liberia’s government remains willing to accept Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
- An ICE official’s declaration says ICE could arrange a charter plane and remove Abrego Garcia to Liberia in roughly five days once Judge Paula Xinis lifts her order.
- The filing quotes ICE as being “confident that Mr. Abrego Garcia’s removal would be imminent” and asks Judge Xinis to rule on the motion by April 17.
- The article reiterates that Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March 2025 in violation of a 2019 order and was slated for CECOT mega‑prison before being returned to the U.S. to face human‑smuggling charges he denies as vindictive.