A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to facilitate the return of a Maryland resident who was erroneously deported to El Salvador and detained in a high-security prison.
The man, a legal U.S. resident with longstanding ties to the Washington, D.C. area, was removed from the country under what the court found to be a procedural misstep by immigration authorities. Upon his arrival in El Salvador, local law enforcement placed him in a facility known for housing gang-affiliated inmates, despite no evidence linking him to criminal activity.
The deportation sparked legal challenges almost immediately, with attorneys arguing that federal immigration officials had ignored ongoing appeals and failed to properly verify the man’s residency status before executing the removal order.
In a sharply worded ruling issued Thursday, the judge stated that the man’s constitutional rights were violated and that federal agencies acted “with reckless disregard” for due process. The court instructed U.S. authorities to work with international partners to secure his release and safe return to the United States.
According to court filings, the man had lived in the U.S. for more than a decade, held stable employment, and had no significant criminal record. His sudden deportation triggered concern among civil rights organizations and lawmakers, some of whom had pressed for an expedited review of the case.
The Department of Homeland Security has yet to comment on the ruling, though sources inside the administration acknowledged that an internal review of the case is underway. Officials are also said to be coordinating with diplomatic channels to arrange the man’s repatriation.
This incident comes amid heightened scrutiny over recent deportations and growing tension between federal courts and the executive branch regarding immigration enforcement protocols.
Attorneys representing the man said they were relieved by the judge’s decision but emphasized that his safety remains at risk until he is back on U.S. soil. “He should never have been sent there in the first place,” one of the lawyers stated. “Now, the government has a responsibility to bring him home.”
The man’s return is expected to take several days due to international coordination and detention protocols in El Salvador. His legal team is also exploring options for civil remedies once he is safely back in the United States.