Jayapal Statement on Reports of Kilmar Abrego Garcia Returning to U.S.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Security, Integrity, and Enforcement, released the following statement on reports that Kilmar Abrego Garcia is returning to the United States.

“The administration is finally returning Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States. This is a first step in our quest for justice in the case of Mr. Abrego Garcia, someone with legal status, with a U.S. citizen wife and child who should never have been disappeared in the first place. The Trump administration should never have taken this long or fought this hard against his return to the U.S. The fact that the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the administration must facilitate his return, as well as the public pressure and horror of the American public at what has happened to Mr. Abrego Garcia, has finally forced the administration to return him. That is an important step and proof that our advocacy works. 

“Mr. Abrego Garcia was kidnapped in front of his young child, and disappeared to El Salvador with no due process. He has been illegally held in one of the most infamous gulags in the world since March. Since disappearing Mr. Abrego Garcia, the Trump administration has embarked on an intentional smear campaign, going as far as doctoring photos to create fake evidence against him. This was an enormous miscarriage of justice by a country that has always had the ability to bring him back to the United States and chose not to.

“I urge the Trump administration to reunite Mr. Abrego Garcia with his family as quickly as possible and to stop their reign of terror against him.”

Kilmar Abrego Garcia was kidnapped on March 15, 2025, and was deported through an “administrative error” as admittedoriginally by the Trump administration.

Issues: Immigration