• Kilmar Abrego Garcia alleges he endured severe beatings and psychological torture in El Salvador's CECOT prison.
• The U.S. government mistakenly deported Garcia, violating an immigration judge’s previous ruling against his deportation.
• El Salvador's President Bukele denies abuse claims, sharing images of Garcia during his detention.
• Garcia’s situation has drawn attention to alleged human rights abuses within Salvadoran prisons.
• Federal prosecutors are currently pursuing smuggling charges against Garcia, while he remains in custody in the U.S.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident, has detailed allegations of mistreatment including "severe beatings, severe deprivation, inadequate nutrition and psychological torture" following his deportation to El Salvador in March. His lawyers submitted these claims in a recent court filing as they argue against his further deportation while he awaits trial on smuggling allegations in Tennessee, asserting that he could face persecution in El Salvador, as he did previously, according to abcnews, huffpost, and reuters.

Upon his arrival at the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), Garcia alleges he faced brutal treatment. He describes being "kicked and hit" repeatedly by guards, leading to visible bruises and a weight loss of 31 pounds within just two weeks. He and other detainees were reportedly forced to kneel for extended periods, experiencing both physical and psychological abuse as guards threatened them with violence, according to indiatimes, latimes, and aljazeera.

Garcia’s treatment has ignited discussions about the U.S. government's aggressive deportation policies, particularly as his deportation was described as an "administrative error" despite a 2019 court ruling barring his return to El Salvador due to safety concerns from gang violence. The Trump administration's continuing claims that he is affiliated with gangs have been strongly contested by his lawyers who maintain his innocence, according to bbc and npr.

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has also publicly refuted Garcia's allegations. Bukele stated through social media that Garcia "wasn't tortured, nor did he lose weight," sharing images of him that contradict claims of mistreatment during his incarceration, according to trtglobal, reuters, and cbsnews.