Prayer Vigil for Kilmer Abrego Garcia in Baltimore
Baltimore – On Monday morning, a significant number of protesters gathered outside the immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) office in Baltimore for a prayer vigil supporting Kilmer Abrego Garcia, who is facing deportation to Uganda. This action comes as the Trump administration reportedly pressures him to plead guilty to charges from the Justice Department.
When Abrego Garcia arrived for a scheduled check-in at ICE, he was unexpectedly arrested, according to his lawyer, Simon Y. Sandoval Moshenberg, who spoke to the assembled crowd.
The crowd reacted with chants of “Shame!” as it became clear that officials were not sharing details about where Abrego Garcia would be held. Sandoval Moshenberg claimed that his arrest was a punitive measure, intended to punish him.
In a statement, Christa Noem from the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Abrego Garcia had been arrested by ICE and was facing deportation to Uganda.
Abrego Garcia’s legal team filed a habeas corpus petition in the Maryland district court, which allows individuals to challenge their detention. They argued that ICE cannot deport him until a decision is reached by a certain timeframe. Meanwhile, Abrego Garcia’s legal representation received notice indicating he was required to report to ICE for check-in, which they considered to be more like an interrogation than a routine meeting.
During his check-in, Abrego Garcia was accompanied by his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sula. He expressed gratitude toward supporters in attendance, proclaiming, “I am free and reunited with my family.”
Prior to this, allegations surfaced suggesting the Trump administration was trying to coerce another Maryland man to plead guilty under the threat of deportation. Abrego Garcia had already entered a not-guilty plea in response to earlier charges.
Sandoval Moshenberg criticized the apparent tactics being deployed, suggesting they were attempting to manipulate the situation by promising refuge in Costa Rica while also threatening deportation to Uganda. A Maryland judge emphasized that Abrego Garcia must receive prior notice before any attempt to deport him could take place.
With the tension surrounding this case, Maryland Democrat Sen. Chris Van Hollen has voiced disapproval of the current administration’s tactics, referring to the efforts to deport Abrego Garcia as attempts to distort the facts of his situation.
Abrego Garcia’s legal troubles began when he was mistakenly deported in March, returning to the U.S. in June. His previous arrest in El Salvador led to serious mistreatment, which he described vividly in legal filings.
As ICE upholds the deportation process, details emerging from a recent agreement with Costa Rica suggest that the country is prepared to grant him refugee status upon his arrival. However, it remains to be seen how this situation will unfold as protests and legal maneuvers continue.
