Federal Judge Slams 'Wholly Lawless' Deportation of Salvadoran Man in Maryland

A federal judge has minced no words in a scathing 22-page decision, calling the deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia "wholly lawless." Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old Salvadoran man, was deported last month to a megaprison in El Salvador under allegations of being an MS-13 gang member. However, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis has now ordered the Department of Homeland Security and its Secretary, Kristi Noem, to return him to the U.S., where he had been living in Maryland.

Judge Xinis didn’t hold back, stating that there were "no legal grounds whatsoever" for Abrego Garcia’s arrest, detention, or deportation. She emphasized that the case stands apart from others because of its complete lack of legal justification. Furthermore, the judge noted that there’s no evidence suggesting Abrego Garcia is being detained in El Salvador in connection with any crimes there, making his situation "wholly lawless." That’s judicial speak for: you messed up big time.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, however, appears to be sticking to her guns. In a Fox News interview, Bondi defended the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security, arguing that their work is essential to keeping America safe. "We have to rely on what ICE says," Bondi remarked. "They're our clients, and I firmly believe in the work they are doing." One can’t help but notice the irony of defending safety while deporting someone who might not even be dangerous.

The story gets murkier. Reports indicate that Abrego Garcia fled gang threats in El Salvador in 2011 at the age of 16. Since then, he’s built a life in the U.S.—marrying a U.S. citizen, working in construction to support his family, and caring for his autistic 5-year-old son. The MS-13 allegations stem from a 2019 incident where he was arrested outside a Maryland Home Depot while seeking work. And let’s not forget his most recent arrest, which happened after he picked up his son from his grandmother’s house following his shift as a sheet metal apprentice. Hardly the profile of an international gang kingpin.

The White House hasn’t budged on its stance. Despite a report from The Atlantic revealing an "administrative error" in Abrego Garcia’s case, the administration has stood firm in defending its decision to deport him. But as court filings unravel details about his life—fleeing violence, working hard, and looking after his family—this so-called "error" feels less like a slip-up and more like a failure to look closely enough.

This case shines a spotlight on the human cost of broad-brush immigration policies. Deporting someone who appears to be an ordinary working dad, rather than a dangerous gang member, is the kind of blunder that undermines trust in the system. Let’s hope the judge’s ruling leads to some much-needed accountability.