The Trump administration informed Kilmar Abrego Garcia on Friday that it now plans to deport him to the tiny African nation of Eswatini, as he continues to fight efforts to re-deport him.
In an email to the Maryland man, which was obtained by CNN, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official said that given Abrego Garcia’s concerns about being deported to several other countries, they now seek to remove him to Eswatini. The Department of Homeland Security previously notified Abrego Garcia of plans to deport him to Uganda, but he objected to the removal, citing fears of being persecuted or tortured.
“That claim of fear is hard to take seriously, especially given that you have claimed (through your attorneys) that you fear persecution or torture in at least 22 different countries,” read the email, which listed the countries, including his home country of El Salvador, where he spent weeks in a notorious mega prison earlier this year after he was mistakenly deported.
“Nonetheless, we hereby notify you that your new country of removal is Eswatini, Africa,” the email added.
An ICE official confirmed that Abrego Garcia will be deported to Eswatini, telling CNN, “TRUE: An immigration judge ordered him removed and ICE will comply with that order.”
