Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Deportation of Salvadoran Man to Uganda

A federal judge in Maryland has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's attempt to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man facing human smuggling charges, to Uganda. Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador earlier this year and then returned to the U.S. after an administrative error, becoming a focal point in the debate over the Trump administration's immigration policies. Despite being ordered to report to ICE in Baltimore, Abrego Garcia was taken into custody, and his lawyers filed a lawsuit contesting his deportation, leading Judge Paula Xinis to halt his removal pending further hearings. The judge cited concerns including Uganda's lack of agreement to provide Abrego Garcia protections such as refugee status and freedom from re-deportation to El Salvador. Abrego Garcia's legal team argues that the deportation efforts are punitive measures linked to his exercising constitutional rights and have rejected a plea deal that would involve deportation to Costa Rica. This case illustrates ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and judicial oversight under the Trump administration.