Identity revealed of second wrongfully deported Maryland man as Trump admin fights his return to US

The case of the second Maryland man wrongfully deported to El Salvador in March has garnered significant attention this week as his identity was finally revealed. Daniel Lozano-Camargo, a 20-year-old Venezuelan man who had been residing in Houston prior to his arrest for cocaine possession in January, was deported to El Salvador in March. This revelation comes as the Trump administration continues to defy a federal judge’s orders to bring him back to the U.S.

Lozano-Camargo, previously known only as “Cristian” in earlier reports, was part of a group of young asylum seekers who had entered the U.S. illegally as unaccompanied children and later filed asylum claims to stay in the country. However, his asylum request was still pending when he was deported, in violation of a settlement agreement that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had made with the group.

U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher ruled last month that the Trump administration had breached the contract by deporting Lozano-Camargo before his asylum claim could be fully heard in court. She ordered the administration to make a good faith request to the government of El Salvador to release him to U.S. custody for transport back to the United States.

This case has highlighted the complexities of Trump-era deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, as Lozano-Camargo’s status as an alleged member of a violent terrorist gang has been called into question. While Justice Department officials have claimed that he is part of a violent terrorist gang, they have not provided concrete evidence linking him to the group.

The Trump administration has argued that Lozano-Camargo’s designation as an “alien enemy” under the Alien Enemies Act disqualifies him from asylum claims and therefore, he is not entitled to be part of the settlement agreement with DHS. Despite court orders to facilitate his return to the U.S., officials have resisted, citing his criminal record as grounds for removal.

As the legal battle continues, questions remain about the fate of Lozano-Camargo and the other individuals wrongfully deported under the Trump administration. The case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by immigrants seeking asylum in the U.S. and the importance of upholding the rule of law in immigration proceedings.