The Trump administration is taking significant steps to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia, seeking a legal resolution through the courts. This latest move is part of a broader strategy to remove the individual, who has been the subject of multiple legal battles and deportation attempts. Following his return from El Salvador earlier this year, the administration has been working to finalize his deportation, presenting a case that claims he has not demonstrated the risk of persecution in Liberia.
The Department of Justice submitted a filing to the U.S. District Court, seeking approval from Judge Paula Xinis to allow the deportation. The DOJ argued that all procedural hurdles have been overcome, and that Garcia failed to show he would face harm in Liberia. They maintained that the court should dissolve its injunction to facilitate the removal, emphasizing that Liberia’s status as a stable democracy supports the decision. However, the legal team representing Garcia has raised concerns about the fairness and due process of the proceeding. They argue that the government’s determination is based solely on the opinion of a single immigration officer, which they claim is insufficient to justify the deportation.
Among the key claims from Garcia’s attorneys is that the deportation effort is part of a larger pattern of retaliatory actions by the administration. They point to the criminal charges brought against Garcia, which they believe are meant to retaliate against the outcomes of his civil case challenging his removal to El Salvador. Additionally, the attorneys highlighted that Costa Rica has offered to accept Garcia for deportation on a refugee status, but only if he agrees to plead guilty to human trafficking charges. The U.S. government has refused to send him to Costa Rica unless he accepts this plea deal, which the legal team argues is a clear example of the administration’s retaliatory tactics.
While the DOJ has maintained that Liberia is a viable option for removal, Garcia’s legal team has not provided evidence suggesting that Liberia is among the countries he feared would perpetrate against him. They have previously listed more than 20 nations, none of which included Liberia. However, the DOJ has recently emphasized Liberia as a partner country, presenting it as a safe and stable destination for his deportation. The ongoing legal battle underscores the complexities and political dimensions of the case, highlighting the administration’s commitment to enforcing immigration policies and potentially the broader implications of such actions on due process and international relations.