Kilmar Abrego Garcia Claims Brutal Treatment in Salvadoran Prison

Jennifer Vasquez Sura, Kilmar Abrego Garcia's wife, appeared alongside supporters at a news event at CASA's Multicultural Center in Hyattsville, Maryland, after her husband was erroneously deported to El Salvador.

In March, Kilmar Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported from the United States to El Salvador, where he reports experiencing severe physical assault and mental torment in one of the nation's most infamous prisons.

A legal motion filed in a Maryland federal court outlines that upon his arrival at CECOT, a large-scale detention facility in Tecoluca, El Salvador, Garcia was "severely mistreated." This alleged mistreatment included instances of physical beatings, ongoing lack of sleep, insufficient food, and psychological trauma.

Attorneys for Abrego Garcia presented these claims to argue against his deportation to El Salvador or any nation likely to send him back there without prior notice and a fair hearing.

The court filing details how Abrego Garcia was immediately stripped upon his arrival at CECOT and subjected to kicks and hits to speed up his change of clothes, leaving him with visible injuries by the following day.

Detainees, including Garcia, were crammed into cells with metal sleeping platforms lacking mattresses. Alongside 20 other Salvadoran prisoners, Garcia was forced to kneel for extended hours through the night, with guards punishing any who succumbed to fatigue. He was not allowed restroom access, leading to him soiling himself.

Prison officials at CECOT allegedly threatened Garcia with transfer to cells occupied by gang members, suggesting he would be violently harmed. He witnessed alleged gang members endangering each other, with no intervention from the facility's staff.

In the first two weeks at CECOT, Garcia's health rapidly deteriorated, and he lost a significant amount of weight. Reports from human rights advocates accuse authorities of mistreatment and overcrowding at CECOT, but journalists usually can't access the facility.

Maryland's Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen attempted to visit Garcia at CECOT in April but learned he had been moved to another site in El Salvador, the Centro Industrial prison, in Santa Ana. Before this transfer, Garcia and others were taken elsewhere within CECOT, reportedly shown in photos with mattresses and improved meals.

The Department of Homeland Security's Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Tricia McLaughlin, accused the media of defending Abrego Garcia, labeling him an MS-13 member, a claim his family denies. She further alleged domestic abuse by Garcia and criticized the media's portrayal of his situation.

In previous years, Garcia's wife sought protective orders against him due to alleged abuse, claims she later retracted as the couple resolved their issues privately.

The embassy of El Salvador in Washington, D.C., was contacted by NPR for comment but did not respond immediately.

Garcia's deportation from the U.S. occurred despite a 2019 court ruling that prohibited his removal due to persecution risks. Immigration officials called his removal an error but later linked him to the MS-13 gang.

In April, the Supreme Court ordered Garcia's return to the U.S. to ensure due process, and two months later, he was brought back and detained in Tennessee under federal charges related to unlawful transportation of illegal aliens.

While awaiting trial, a judge denied his release, and his lawyers requested that he remain in custody to prevent a potential deportation.