The journey to Kilmar Abrego García’s deportation to one of El Salvador's notorious megaprisons began six years ago. It all started when a suburban Maryland police detective recorded a significant allegation on a Gang Interview Field Sheet. In 2019, after detaining Abrego García outside a Home Depot in Prince George’s County, the detective labeled him as “an active member of MS-13 with the Westerns clique.” The basis of this claim? An unnamed confidential informant and Abrego García’s Chicago Bulls cap, which the officer deemed “indicative of the Hispanic gang culture.” These allegations, strongly contested by Abrego García’s family and legal representatives, became pivotal in the escalating legal struggle between the Trump administration and the judicial system.
Recent legal actions assert that federal officials violated Abrego García's due process rights when they deported him to the Salvadoran government’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) last month, despite an immigration judge's explicit order prohibiting such action. The government has embarked on a vigorous campaign to label Abrego García not only as a gang member but also as a “terrorist” and a “human trafficker.” In a recent White House briefing, Trump declared, “Abrego García is an illegal alien MS-13 gang member and foreign terrorist,” referencing a dossier his administration has circulated widely.
To date, the only evidence federal authorities have presented in court to support these serious allegations is the original gang sheet filled out by Detective Ivan Mendez in 2019. However, a review of court documents and public records reveals that the integrity of this evidence has been under scrutiny since its inception. Mendez, who was suspended shortly after the encounter with Abrego García due to misconduct allegations, later faced criminal charges. His actions, along with those of other members of the gang unit, have raised significant questions about the reliability of the information used to pursue deportation.
The Prince George’s County Police Department has faced longstanding allegations of systemic racial profiling, particularly against Black and Latino communities. From 2004 to 2009, the department was under federal oversight due to excessive use of force and brutal tactics. Community members have repeatedly voiced concerns regarding the gang unit's practices and the disproportionate representation of young men of color in the GangNET database. After a civil lawsuit highlighted these issues, the use of the Gang Field Interview Sheet for intelligence gathering was discontinued.
Lucia Curiel, an attorney who represented Abrego García after his 2019 arrest, stated that he had fled gang threats in El Salvador during his teenage years and had no previous contact with law enforcement until his detention. She emphasized that without Mendez's allegations, Abrego García would likely not have caught the attention of ICE. “All the evidence, or lack thereof, suggests this is the single source of the allegation, and the allegation is the single reason he was deported,” Curiel remarked, attributing responsibility to both the Trump administration and the Prince George’s County Police Department.
On March 28, 2019, Abrego García was arrested outside a Home Depot while seeking day labor. Despite being detained alongside three other Latino men, none were charged with a crime. The police narrative changed significantly, as outlined in the gang field interview sheet, which incorrectly identified Abrego García as an active MS-13 member based solely on the opinion of a confidential informant and his choice of clothing. During hours of questioning, he consistently denied any gang affiliation. Eventually, he was handed over to ICE, which arrested him for being in the country illegally.
During his bond hearing, the government’s sole evidence against Abrego García was Mendez’s gang sheet. Despite the immigration judge expressing skepticism about the evidence linking him to gang activity, Abrego García was denied bond and remained in detention for three months. His eventual release came after a ruling that granted him withholding of removal, a form of protection for migrants facing potential harm if returned to their home countries. This ruling was a rare victory against the backdrop of a Trump administration known for stringent immigration policies.
Five years later, in a shocking turn of events, Abrego García was pulled over by ICE while driving with his son. After a series of distressing incidents, he was once again detained and subsequently deported to El Salvador. His wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, has since engaged multiple attorneys in an attempt to challenge this decision, filing lawsuits and advocating for his return. Recent court rulings have repeatedly emphasized the unsubstantiated nature of the government’s allegations against him.
As the legal battle continues, Abrego García’s case epitomizes the complexities and challenges within the U.S. immigration system. With federal officials asserting serious accusations without substantial proof, the fight for his justice reflects broader systemic issues regarding immigration enforcement, racial profiling, and due process. As legal advocates and community leaders rally for his cause, the implications of this case extend far beyond Abrego García, highlighting the urgent need for reform in immigration practices and policies.
