BALTIMORE (AP) — Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 30-year-old El Salvadoran national, was scheduled to report to U.S. immigration officials in Maryland on Monday as the Trump administration moved forward with plans to deport him. His arrest and ongoing struggle to remain in the U.S. have become a significant focal point in the administration's immigration enforcement efforts.

Abrego Garcia was recently released from a jail in Tennessee, where he had been detained since June, following a controversial deportation in March to El Salvador. This deportation occurred despite a judge's determination that he faced a "well-founded fear" of violence in his home country. He was subsequently brought back to the U.S. and faced human smuggling charges.

Immigration officials indicated that they plan to deport Abrego Garcia to Uganda, which has recently agreed to accept certain deportees from the U.S. This announcement came after he declined an offer that would have allowed him to be sent to Costa Rica in exchange for pleading guilty to the smuggling charges. Abrego Garcia's defense team has been tight-lipped regarding whether he is still contemplating the plea deal, which the government has emphasized would expire on Monday morning.

Upon his return to Maryland, Abrego Garcia was greeted by family members, with video footage showing a celebratory reunion complete with decorations and expressions of gratitude. Court filings reveal that Costa Rica's government welcomed him as a legal immigrant, assuring that he would not face detention upon arrival there.

Chad Gilmartin, a spokesperson for the Justice Department, highlighted the seriousness of the charges against Abrego Garcia, framing him as a "clear danger" and asserting that he must either accept a guilty plea or face trial. Gilmartin stated, "Either way, we will hold Abrego Garcia accountable and protect the American people."

This case has become emblematic of the Trump administration's immigration policies, particularly given Abrego Garcia's previous mistaken deportation. His legal battles intensified after he was determined by a judge to have a valid asylum claim, only to face new charges after returning to the U.S.

Abrego Garcia entered a not-guilty plea in response to the smuggling accusations stemming from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee. At that time, law enforcement became suspicious of smuggling activity but ultimately allowed him to continue driving without a citation. His ongoing legal issues also include claims that the government is attempting to punish him for contesting his initial deportation.

Abrego Garcia has an American wife and children and had resided in Maryland for several years. Although he qualified for pretrial release last month, he remained in custody at the behest of his lawyers, who feared that the Trump administration would attempt a swift deportation if he were released.

A recent ruling in Maryland mandated that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) must provide 72 hours' notice before initiating deportation proceedings, allowing individuals time to defend themselves against such actions. This requirement was acknowledged in an email sent by ICE to Abrego Garcia's attorneys, indicating that he could face removal to Uganda within that window, given that Uganda is now accepting deportees under specific conditions.

Federal officials maintain that Abrego Garcia can be deported based on his illegal entry into the U.S. and a prior ruling by a U.S. immigration judge in 2019 that deemed him eligible for expulsion, albeit not to El Salvador.