Rubio and Bukele in discussions for migrant deportation issue resolution

A Fresh Take:

Stuck in El Salvador Despite Wrongful Deportation

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele have been conversing over Kilmar Abrego Garcia's unfortunate situation. This following Garcia's wrongful imprisonment in El Salvador for over a month, as reported by sources in the know.

As per CNN International, quoting a U.S. official, the Trump administration has collaborated closely with El Salvador, even requesting Garcia's return. However, Bukele, who mentioned a meeting in the Oval Office with Trump, states that Garcia is not coming back.

Last week, there was a week-long halt in Garcia's proceedings, potentially due to the possibility of a diplomatic resolution. That freeze ended yesterday, Wednesday.

Discussions between Rubio and Bukele, however, remain vague, and various U.S. officials claim the U.S. administration is neither aiming to return Kilmar to the United States nor granting him any extra process.

Abrego was apprehended in a traffic stop in Maryland and transferred to El Salvador over a month ago.

The Trump administration alleges Abrego's affiliation with the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, despite him having no criminal record and no solid evidence connecting him to this transnational criminal organization.

Abrego Garcia was initially confined in El Salvador's maximum security prison, Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), which has been accused of human rights abuses, and later shifted to another prison in the Central American country, as confirmed by U.S. authorities.

It's essential to highlight that Abrego's deportation was ordered against a 2019 immigration court ruling forbidding his removal to El Salvador due to the fear of persecution[1][3]. The Trump administration admits the deportation was a mistake but justifies it by claiming Abrego's alleged MS-13 ties warrant his exclusion from the U.S., providing documents suggesting a history of domestic violence and gang connections[4][5].

Insights:

High-level intervention: Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) reportedly facilitated a meeting between Abrego Garcia and President Nayib Bukele in El Salvador's prison[1].
Legal demands: Congressional leaders, such as Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL), have urged the administration to adhere to legal obligations, raising concerns about potential Supreme Court violations[2][5]. A recent poll suggests that 45% of Americans believe the government is overlookin court orders regarding Garcia's case[5].
Status challenges: Abrego Garcia's lawyers argue his deportation violated the Withholding of Removal status and potentially the Alien Enemies Act framework[3][4]. According to a poll, 45% of Americans consider the deportation unjustified, with significant partisan divisions regarding perceptions of his gang affiliations[5].

As of late April 2025, there's no publicly reported diplomatic engagement between Rubio and Bukele specifically addressing this case. The administration continues to oppose Garcia’s return, while legal advocates pursue remedies through U.S. courts and congressional oversight[2][4][5].

Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador, has denied the request by the Trump administration to send back Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongfully deported from the United States and is currently stuck in El Salvador.
Sources citing high-level politics and general news have reported discussions between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Nayib Bukele regarding the issue of Kilmar Abrego Garcia's wrongful deportation.
Amidst war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and migration concerns, the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported despite a 2019 immigration court ruling forbidding his removal to El Salvador, has become a focal point in U.S. politics and international relations.
As the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia unfolds, it has been revealed that his deportation was sent by the Trump administration, alleging his affiliation with the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, despite him having no criminal record and no solid evidence connecting him to this transnational criminal organization.
The Trump administration, citing the potential dangers that Abrego Garcia may pose due to his alleged MS-13 ties, has issued documents suggesting a history of domestic violence and gang connections to justify his exclusion from the United States, despite the botched immigration court ruling that forbade his removal to El Salvador.