What began as an ordinary day in 2019 turned into a living nightmare for Kilmar Garcia’s family when the Maryland father was mistakenly deported to El Salvador’s infamous CECOT prison. The Trump administration’s order targeting 238 immigrants included Garcia despite his protected status, a mistake officials later admitted.
US District Judge Paula Xinis didn’t mince words, calling Garcia’s deportation without legal authority “conscience-shocking.” But the ruling meant little when El Salvador’s president Nayib Bukele refused to facilitate Garcia’s return, dismissing the idea as “preposterous” during tense diplomatic discussions.
Meanwhile, Garcia’s wife Jennifer battles conflicting narratives. While US authorities point to a 2021 restraining order as evidence of domestic issues, Jennifer explains it stemmed from trauma in a previous relationship. “We grew stronger after that,” she insists. As Garcia remains imprisoned in conditions described as inhumane, his family continues their desperate fight to reunite.
