Kilmar Abrego Garcia endured severe maltreatment during his incarceration at the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador, according to his attorneys in a recent court filing. The claims include being stripped naked, having his head shaved, enduring physical beatings, and being forced to kneel for hours overnight, leading to a loss of over 30 pounds.
Deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration in March, Abrego, a Maryland resident, was sent back to the U.S. in June to face federal charges. At the time of his deportation, a 2019 court order had granted him protection from being removed from the country. His case brought national attention, igniting discussions over the Trump administration’s immigration policies and the methods employed in deportations, often conducted without due process.
Abrego was deported on March 15 and immediately placed in CECOT, a prison infamous for its harsh treatment of inmates. His attorneys detailed allegations of beatings, sleep deprivation, and psychological abuse in an amended complaint filed on Wednesday as part of a federal lawsuit initiated by his wife against the Trump administration in the District of Maryland.
Upon his arrival at CECOT, the complaint alleges that Abrego was ordered to strip, provided with prison attire, and physically assaulted by guards, including being kicked and struck with batons. The following day, visible bruising covered his body.
In his cell, shared with 20 other detainees, Abrego was reportedly forced to kneel from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., with guards beating anyone unable to comply due to exhaustion. He was denied access to the bathroom during this time, resulting in further humiliation, according to the complaint.
The inmates were crammed into small, unsanitary metal bunks without mattresses in cells that lacked windows, with lights on around the clock. Abrego’s attorneys recounted that prison officials threatened him with transfer to cells occupied by gang members who would harm him. The complaint mentions witnessing prisoners injuring one another without any intervention from staff, and screams echoing throughout the night going unanswered.
Within just two weeks, Abrego had lost 31 pounds. Although he was transferred to a different module on April 9, the following day he was moved alone to Centro Industrial in Santa Ana, El Salvador. Throughout his imprisonment, he was reportedly cut off from communication with his family and deprived of legal counsel until intervention from Senator Chris Van Hollen on April 17.
In a significant turn, the Supreme Court ruled in April that Abrego’s removal was unlawful and ordered the administration to facilitate his return to the U.S. This back-and-forth raised concerns regarding the administration’s adherence to judicial orders. He was ultimately returned to the U.S. on June 6.
The government has accused the 29-year-old of involvement with the gang MS-13, allegations his family vehemently denies. Abrego, originally from El Salvador, fled his home country at the age of 16 due to gang violence, eventually arriving in the U.S. in 2011 and settling in Maryland with his older brother, who is a U.S. citizen.
Abrego’s attorneys are seeking a judgment from Judge Paula Xinis to affirm that his rights were violated throughout his ordeal, from his apprehension in Maryland to his return. They are also calling for his immediate return to Maryland and a separate habeas corpus hearing.
Upon his return, the Justice Department indicated that Abrego faces human smuggling charges in Tennessee, linked to a conspiracy to transport undocumented individuals within the country, including alleged MS-13 members.
His wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, maintains that he was not engaged in any criminal activities. “Kilmar worked in construction and sometimes transported groups of workers between job sites, so it’s entirely plausible he would have been pulled over while driving with others in the vehicle,” she stated, emphasizing he was never charged with any crime or wrongdoing at the time.
The family’s attorney, Chris Newman, criticized the Trump administration’s actions as part of a “campaign of disinformation and defamation” against Abrego and his family. Furthermore, a federal judge in Tennessee has mandated the Trump administration to follow local rules that limit out-of-court comments that could jeopardize Abrego’s right to a fair trial. His attorneys expressed concern that ongoing extrajudicial statements could undermine his ability to receive an impartial jury trial, stating, “Mr. Abrego is entitled to a fair trial ‘by an impartial jury free from outside influences.’”
