Trump administration seeks to move ahead with removing Abrego Garcia to Liberia [View all]

Source: ABC News

March 20, 2026, 10:34 PM


The Trump administration is moving forward with its plan to swiftly remove Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia as soon as a court allows.In a series of filings on Friday, administration officials asked a judge to dissolve a preliminary injunction that bars them from re-detaining Abrego Garcia and deporting him.

Abrego Garcia, a native of El Salvador who had been living in Maryland with his wife and children, was deported last March to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison -- despite a 2019 court order barring his deportation to that country due to fear of persecution. The Trump administration claimed he was a member of the criminal gang MS-13, which he and his attorneys deny.

He was brought back to the U.S. in June to face the human smuggling charges, to which he pleaded not guilty.

Although Abrego Garcia has said he's willing to be sent to Costa Rica, Acting Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons said in a memo filed in court that he has "decided to disregard" that request and intends to send him to Liberia if Abrego Garcia is ordered removed from the U.S.

Read more: https://abcnews.com/US/trump-administration-seeks-move-ahead-removing-abrego-garcia/story?id=131272186