Kilmar Abrego Garcia fled El Salvador to escape gang violence and eventually settled in Maryland, where he built a life working in construction and raising a family. Despite a federal judge's order that prohibited his deportation, he was mistakenly deported to a Salvadoran prison notorious for its inhumane conditions, as part of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. The government labeled him as an MS-13 gang member, a claim his family vehemently denies, while the administration doubled down on this assertion despite admitting the deportation mistake. His case has sparked a debate over the constitutionality and morality of immigration enforcement policies, with legal battles ensuing to facilitate his release. This incident has transformed Mr. Abrego Garcia into a symbol of the broader immigration debate, highlighting issues of due process and human rights violations under the Trump administration's immigration policies.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia fled to the United States as a teenager to escape gang violence in El Salvador, eventually making Maryland his home, where he worked in construction, married, and raised children with special needs.

Despite being granted special status by an immigration judge that prevented his deportation, Mr. Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador under the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies.

The government accused him of being a member of the MS-13 gang, a claim based on circumstantial evidence such as clothing and tattoos, which his family denies and which remains unproven.

His deportation, amidst allegations of being a gang member, has raised significant legal and ethical questions about the administration's immigration crackdown and its adherence to constitutional due process rights.

The New York Times investigation revealed conflicting narratives and legal battles concerning Mr. Abrego Garcia's identity and the government's handling of his case, illustrating the complexities and human impact of immigration enforcement.

Efforts to rectify the deportation mistake have been met with resistance from the government, while the Supreme Court has ruled for steps to be taken to facilitate his release, highlighting the ongoing legal struggle.

Mr. Abrego Garcia's case has become emblematic of the broader immigration debate, symbolizing the challenges and controversies surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States.