• The U.S. plans to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia, potentially by October 31.
• Garcia's case has drawn attention to Trump's immigration policies and previous deportation errors.
• After attempts to send him to Uganda, Ghana, and Eswatini, Liberia has agreed to accept him.
• Critics argue the process is punitive and disconnects him from his family in the U.S.
• Garcia is also facing human smuggling charges in Tennessee.

The U.S. government has announced plans to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia, potentially as soon as October 31. His case has gained prominence as a critique of President Trump's immigration policies, particularly since he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador earlier this year, in violation of a settlement agreement. Following a Supreme Court ruling, Garcia was returned to the U.S. in June, after which Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) considered various African nations for his deportation, now settling on Liberia, according to Los Angeles Times and HuffPost.

A federal judge had previously barred Garcia's immediate deportation, citing concerns over the legality of the process used by the Trump administration. His attorney has argued that Garcia is being targeted as a form of punishment related to his earlier wrongful deportation, claiming it is "punitive, cruel, and unconstitutional." A recent court filing from the Department of Homeland Security emphasizes that Liberia is a “thriving democracy” committed to human rights protections, yet this contrasts with a State Department report highlighting ongoing human rights issues in Liberia, according to Africanews and Los Angeles Times.

Garcia's attorney has also pointed out that he has lived in Maryland for several years and has an American wife and child, emphasizing the hardship of relocating him to Liberia—a country to which he has no ties. Prior attempts to deport him to Uganda, Ghana, and Eswatini were unsuccessful, leading ICE to focus on Liberia as the new option. His attorney continues to advocate for Garcia’s asylum claim in the United States, asserting that Costa Rica is a viable refugee alternative that the U.S. government is unwilling to consider, as stated in statements reported by HuffPost and Los Angeles Times.

In addition to the deportation issue, Garcia is also facing criminal charges related to human smuggling in federal court in Tennessee. He has pleaded not guilty and has filed motions claiming the prosecution against him is vindictive, complicating his legal challenges further, as noted by Africanews and HuffPost.