Protective Order Filed by Wife Against Man Wrongly Deported to El Salvador

In 2021, Kilmar Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez, sought legal protection from her husband due to alleged domestic abuse incidents, a situation highlighted in court documents CBS News accessed on Wednesday.

Jennifer successfully obtained a provisional restraining order against her spouse Kilmar Abrego Garcia in May 2021, documented in the Prince George's County District Court records.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the court case highlighted incidents where Abrego Garcia reportedly inflicted physical harm by punching and scratching Vasquez, tearing her clothes, and resulting in visible bruises.

A judicial directive at the time ordered Abrego Garcia to cease all contact with Vasquez, vacate their residence, avoid a specified relative’s home, and relinquish his firearms.

However, come June 2021, the case did not proceed as Vasquez failed to attend the concluding hearing, leading to a dismissal, post which the couple resumed cohabitation.

Vasquez, while corroborating her decision to seek the protective order, stated she acted preemptively after a disagreement, given her past experiences with domestic violence. However, since tensions deescalated, Vasquez chose not to pursue the legal proceedings further, and the couple addressed the issue privately, including undergoing counseling.

Asserting that their marriage strengthened thereafter, Vasquez condemned the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions as unwarranted, portraying Kilmar as a loving spouse and parent.

The erroneous deportation of Abrego Garcia, a national from El Salvador and U.S. resident since he was a teenager, resulted from a misunderstanding involving claims of gang affiliations, which his family contests.