Government Seeks to Deport Abrego Garcia to African Nation of Eswatini
In a surprising twist, the government has informed Abrego Garcia that they are considering deporting him to Eswatini, a small kingdom located in Africa. This development was revealed via an email from a high-ranking immigration official.
Abrego Garcia's legal team has previously expressed concerns about their client's safety, claiming that he has fears of persecution or torture in Uganda. This is where the authorities initially planned to send him after his detention by immigration officials following his release from criminal custody.
It's also worth noting that Abrego Garcia has expressed fear of potential harm if he is deported to more than 20 countries, most of which are located in Latin America. Despite these concerns, the immigration official communicated in the email that while these claims are challenging to accept at face value, they've decided to notify him of their intent to send him to Eswatini.
Eswatini's Role in Deportation Scenario
Eswatini has emerged as the latest in a series of potential destinations for Abrego Garcia. A native of El Salvador, he was mistakenly deported in March, detained in a notorious local prison, and returned to the U.S. in June, only to face smuggling charges.
Eswatini, being Africa's only remaining absolute monarchy, is one of the few nations that have agreed to accept deportees from the U.S., even if they aren't their citizens. Earlier this year, the U.S. deported a small group of convicts from Asia and Latin America to Eswatini. These individuals are currently being held incommunicado in a prison there.
Despite being released from pre-trial detention last month, Abrego Garcia was immediately taken into custody by ICE during an appointment in Baltimore, where they began processing his deportation to Uganda. His legal team is actively challenging this move and claim that the government proposed deporting him to Costa Rica instead if he agreed to a plea deal.
Legal Battle for Abrego Garcia's Immigration Case
As the legal wrangling continues, Abrego Garcia is seeking asylum in the U.S. This status is granted to individuals who have valid fears of persecution in their home country.
In a recent legal filing, government lawyers urged the judge not to reopen Abrego Garcia's immigration case, which would allow him to seek asylum or other legal protections, such as a green card through his marriage to a U.S. citizen.
The government contends that Abrego Garcia is ineligible for asylum and other benefits due to his alleged affiliation with the gang MS-13, his smuggling charges, and a domestic violence complaint filed by his wife. They insist that Abrego Garcia is part of a foreign terrorist group, as MS-13 is classified as such.
However, Abrego Garcia vehemently denies any ties with MS-13 and has pleaded not guilty to his smuggling charges. His legal team has categorized these charges as "vindictive and selective." A protective order alleging domestic violence was filed by his wife in 2021, but she later decided not to pursue the case. As a result, no criminal charges were brought against Abrego Garcia in this matter.
Abrego Garcia's lawyer maintains confidence in his client's case, stating, "If allowed a fair trial in immigration court, there's no way he's not going to prevail on his claim for asylum."