US State Department: Detained Sa man now held in CECOT without danger.

The United States State Department submitted documents to a federal court on Saturday (April 12) confirming that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a resident of Maryland and a Salvadoran national, is currently detained in CECOT, the highest-security anti-terrorism prison in El Salvador, with his situation deemed “safe”.

Official Michael Kozak from the State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs stated in the documents that, according to official reports from the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador, Garcia is stable and safe in custody, in accordance with Salvadoran laws.

These documents were filed in response to an order issued by federal judge Paula Xinis on Friday (April 11), which required the executive branch to provide daily updates on Garcia’s situation and detailed progress on facilitating his return to the United States.

The Supreme Court of the United States had previously upheld Judge Xinis’s order, emphasizing the federal government’s responsibility to “assist and effectuate” the return. However, the Supreme Court also noted that the term “effectuate” has a vague definition, potentially exceeding judicial authority.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated in a press conference on Friday that, based on the Supreme Court’s ruling, the executive branch’s duty is to “assist” Garcia’s return, not to “directly enforce” it.

Garcia fled gang violence in El Salvador in 2011 to seek refuge in the United States, and in 2019, he was granted a deportation protection order by the U.S. Immigration Court, preventing his removal to his home country.

However, on March 15 of this year, the Trump administration deported Garcia back to El Salvador on grounds of alleged gang affiliation. The government later admitted that this deportation was a “procedural error.” Despite this, the White House emphasized that diplomatic coordination involves multiple processes and cannot immediately bring Garcia back to the U.S. as the court desires.

Currently, Garcia’s legal proceedings are ongoing. The public continues to follow developments in U.S.-El Salvador diplomatic cooperation and how the Trump administration will respond to the legal and political pressures brought by the court order.

President Trump also commented on the case, stating that if the Supreme Court orders, his administration will cooperate to bring Garcia back to the U.S.

Trump is expected to meet with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele at the White House on Monday (April 14) to discuss security cooperation matters.

Trump praised Bukele on his social media platform, Truth Social, commending his willingness to accept “hostile foreigners” from the U.S. and stating that the two countries are “working closely to eradicate terrorist organizations.”

He further wrote, “These barbarians who have been expelled are now fully under the control of El Salvador—a proud and independent sovereign nation. Their future will be determined by President Bukele and his government, and they will never again pose a threat to our citizens!”

※ This article draws references from reports by Reuters and The Hill.