Kilmar Ábrego García, a Salvadoran national, has been informed by U.S. authorities that he could face deportation to Uganda shortly after his release from custody. His attorneys reported that he declined a plea deal which would have allowed him to accept a guilty plea for human smuggling charges in exchange for being deported to Costa Rica. This offer was made when it became evident that he would be released from jail in Tennessee.
Mr. Ábrego García was previously deported to El Salvador in March, a move that was later acknowledged as an “administrative error” by U.S. officials, leading to his return to the United States on criminal charges. He has denied allegations of having ties to the MS-13 gang. Following his recent release, his lawyers indicated that they were informed of plans to deport him to Uganda, a country with which he has no known connections.
Costa Rica had agreed to accept him as a refugee and provide legal status, as per a letter from an official included in his legal filings. His attorneys expressed concern that the U.S. government is compelling him to choose between a guilty plea or the risk of being sent to Uganda, which they argue poses a threat to his safety.
Currently residing in Maryland with family, Mr. Ábrego García is set to appear in a Baltimore court. Should a judge support the government’s deportation request, he may be sent to Uganda within a short timeframe. The U.S. has established deportation agreements with both Honduras and Uganda as part of its immigration enforcement strategies. As per Ugandan officials, there are conditions regarding the acceptance of individuals with criminal records, emphasizing a preference for transfers from African countries.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cewyppww09jo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss