Kilmar Ábrego García, a Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador, alleges severe mistreatment, including torture and overcrowded conditions, after arriving at a high-security prison. His legal team is pursuing a lawsuit against the Trump administration, asserting his wrongful deportation and subsequent abuse.
Allegations of Brutality: Kilmar Ábrego García's Harrowing Experience in El Salvador Prison
Allegations of Brutality: Kilmar Ábrego García's Harrowing Experience in El Salvador Prison
New court filings reveal shocking claims of torture and abuse faced by deported Maryland man Kilmar Ábrego García in El Salvador's notorious prison system.
Kilmar Ábrego García, a 29-year-old resident of Maryland, has come forward with harrowing allegations of torture and abuse he endured in an infamous prison in El Salvador. His legal representatives have revealed that upon his return to the country in June to face human trafficking charges, he was subjected to brutal treatment at the CECOT prison, one of the country's most notorious facilities. In newly filed court documents, his lawyers claim that Mr. Ábrego García sustained visible injuries from violent encounters with prison guards within just 24 hours of his arrival.
The Trump administration previously linked him to the notorious Salvadoran gang MS-13, statements that Mr. Ábrego García, as well as his family, vehemently contest. Initially, U.S. officials had indicated that he would never return to the United States. However, in June, he was extradited to Tennessee to face human trafficking allegations—charges to which he has firmly pleaded not guilty.
The lawsuit initiated by his wife highlights claims that Mr. Ábrego García and twenty other deported now-prisoners were subjected to inhumane treatment upon entering the CECOT facility. They were reportedly crammed into overcrowded cells with metal bunks devoid of proper bedding, enduring constant illumination and minimal sanitation access.
Furthermore, it is alleged that guards enforced a brutal regimen, requiring the inmates to kneel for hours while punishing anyone who showed signs of fatigue. Disturbingly, Mr. Ábrego García reported threats from guards to place him in the company of gang members, an act he claims could lead to severe injury or death. His physical condition deteriorated significantly during his stay, with reports indicating a staggering loss of 30 pounds within two weeks of detention.
Despite President Nayib Bukele's assurances of humane conditions in El Salvador's prisons, these allegations present a stark contradiction. The Trump administration is currently seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed, arguing that Mr. Ábrego García's return to the U.S. has rendered the case moot. Mr. Ábrego García, who first entered the U.S. illegally in 2011, had received protection from deportation in 2019 due to potential dangers posed by gangs in El Salvador.
This case raises critical concerns about the treatment of deportees and the repercussions of immigration policies, especially in light of Mr. Ábrego García's erroneous deportation to a threatening environment. After a federal judge ruled he was eligible for release from jail in Tennessee, his legal team expressed hesitance about his release, fearing he may be deported again if he is freed from custody.
