Judge Bars Removal After Liberia Agrees to Accept

The Justice Department says Liberia has agreed to accept Salvadoran national Kilmar Abrego Garcia for third-country removal and that immigration officials say removal could occur as soon as Oct. 31. A Maryland federal judge, Paula Xinis, has temporarily barred his removal while she considers his bid for release and related litigation over his detention. Abrego, who has a U.S. wife and children in Maryland, was wrongfully deported to El Salvador in March despite a 2019 court order that protected him and was later returned to the U.S. to face federal human-smuggling charges. The government says it received diplomatic assurances from Liberia and notes Liberia is not on Abrego's list of more than 20 countries he fears; Liberia said it would take him "on a strictly humanitarian and temporary basis." Abrego's lawyers and supporters call the plan punitive and cruel, note prior proposed third-country destinations rejected him, and say he may challenge removal by claiming fear of persecution or torture while continuing to litigate in immigration and criminal courts.