The White House made a bold statement on social media today, declaring that Kilmar Abrego Garcia — a man at the center of a high-profile deportation dispute — will not be returning to the United States.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the White House shared a heavily edited screenshot of a New York Times headline about Senator Chris Van Hollen’s recent meeting with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador. The altered headline read: “Senator Meets With Deported MS-13 Illegal Alien in El Salvador Who’s Never Coming Back.”
“Fixed it for you, @NYTimes. Oh, and by the way, @ChrisVanHollen – he’s NOT coming back,” the caption stated.
Abrego Garcia, who had been living in the U.S. without legal status, was deported to El Salvador in 2019 despite a federal court order that explicitly prohibited his removal. The Trump administration later admitted in legal filings that his deportation had occurred due to a clerical error.
Following the mishap, a federal judge ordered the government to “facilitate” his return from the Salvadoran prison known as CECOT — an order that the U.S. Supreme Court largely upheld. However, the Trump administration has resisted complying, now claiming that Abrego Garcia is affiliated with the violent MS-13 gang.
His attorneys have strongly denied those allegations, calling them unfounded. At least one federal judge has also expressed skepticism toward the gang claims, suggesting they may be politically motivated.
The controversy has sparked debate over immigration policy, executive power, and adherence to court rulings, especially as campaign rhetoric intensifies heading into the election season.