U.S. seeks to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda after he refused plea offer

U.S. immigration officials have revealed their plans to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda after he rejected an offer to be sent to Costa Rica in exchange for pleading guilty to human smuggling charges and remaining in jail. Abrego Garcia’s defense lawyers disclosed this information to the court on Saturday.

The offer from Costa Rica, which came late Thursday, stipulated that he must remain in jail. However, after Abrego Garcia was released from jail on Friday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) informed his lawyers of the decision to deport him to Uganda, instructing him to report to immigration authorities on Monday.

Subsequently, the government informed Abrego Garcia that he had until Monday morning to accept a plea deal in exchange for deportation to Costa Rica, or the offer would be rescinded. His lawyers did not confirm whether he is still considering the offer.

Accompanying the brief was a letter from the Costa Rican government assuring Abrego Garcia that he would be welcomed as a legal immigrant in their country and would not face detention. Furthermore, Costa Rica’s Spanish-speaking environment aligns with Abrego Garcia’s native language of El Salvador. The deportation to Costa Rica would only occur after he serves his sentence for the smuggling charges.

Abrego Garcia’s case gained attention in President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda when he was mistakenly deported in March and later brought back to the United States in June to face human smuggling charges. Despite pleading not guilty, he has requested for the case to be dismissed, claiming it is a retaliatory measure for challenging his deportation to El Salvador.

The latest filing by his lawyers argues that the threat to deport him to Uganda demonstrates the vindictiveness of the prosecution. The smuggling charges stem from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee, where officers suspected smuggling but allowed Abrego Garcia to continue driving with only a warning.

Despite being eligible for pretrial release, Abrego Garcia remained in jail at the request of his lawyers to prevent immediate deportation. A recent ruling in Maryland required ICE to provide 72 hours’ notice before initiating deportation proceedings, which was referenced in an email from ICE to Abrego Garcia’s lawyers on Friday.

Federal officials maintain that Abrego Garcia can be deported due to his illegal entry into the U.S. and a previous determination by an immigration judge in 2019. However, the destination of Uganda has raised concerns and objections from his legal team. The case continues to unfold as Abrego Garcia navigates the legal complexities surrounding his deportation.