The U.S. Supreme Court issued a rare rebuke to federal immigration authorities on Wednesday, ruling that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident, must be allowed to return to the United States after being unlawfully deported to El Salvador in defiance of a standing court order.
Abrego Garcia, who has no criminal record and is married to a U.S. citizen, was removed from the country in 2023 despite a 2019 federal court injunction that blocked his deportation. The court had granted him protection under the Convention Against Torture, citing credible threats of violence from gangs in his native El Salvador. Upon his forced return, Abrego Garcia was imprisoned in a high-security Salvadoran detention center, where advocates say he faced inhumane conditions and threats to his safety.
The 9-0 decision marks a rare moment of unity on a deeply contentious issue and underscores the judiciary’s power to check executive actions in immigration and foreign policy. Writing for the Court, Chief Justice John Roberts stated that “the government’s unilateral violation of a lawful court order cannot stand in a constitutional system bound by checks and balances.”
The ruling firmly rejected the administration’s argument that the executive branch held “unreviewable discretion” in deportation matters and lacked legal authority to reverse a removal once it had occurred.
“Court orders are not suggestions,” Roberts wrote. “They are binding mandates that ensure the rule of law prevails—even when it is inconvenient.”
Immigration and civil rights groups hailed the decision as a major victory for due process and accountability. “This sends a clear message: the federal government cannot act above the law, especially when human lives are at stake,” said Mariela Estrada, legal director of the Immigrant Rights Coalition.
Abrego Garcia’s legal team said they were working with federal officials to coordinate his return. “We are relieved and grateful the Court acted decisively,” said attorney Rafael Mendez. “Our client has suffered immensely for an error that should never have happened.”
The Department of Homeland Security has yet to issue a formal statement on the ruling, though sources suggest that arrangements are already underway to bring Abrego Garcia back to the United States within days.
The case highlights broader concerns over deportation practices and the treatment of asylum seekers in the United States. Critics have long warned of systemic issues within the immigration enforcement system, where miscommunication and bureaucratic indifference can result in life-threatening errors.
Wednesday’s ruling may set an important precedent for future cases involving wrongful deportation and the limits of executive power in immigration matters.
